I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off-duty time. This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.
Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass (including roots). Recognized by Andy Weir in his famous book/movie “The Martian,” potatoes will have a place in future exploration of space. So I thought it good to get started now! I call this one “Spudnik!”
More photos from space can be found on my [twitter](https://x.com/astro_Pettit) and Instagram, astro_pettit
srewoByesaC on
How cool! Which way do the roots grow?
RagsZa on
Very cool! I wonder how air potatoes would do compared to regular potatoes.
FiveOhFive91 on
Well that is a very lovely potato!
AlexRyang on
I’ve seen this movie before.
That’s an alien egg.
TheGruenTransfer on
Mark Whatney would be proud
Acheron04 on
Congrats on the space potato! Do you have any way to cook it, or will that be a seed potato for a future experiment?
lostandthedamned on
So how often did you mutter “I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this”?
Every time you checked them or just at the start?
boodlebob on
What can someome that hasn’t dedicated their entire life to become an astronaut (which I know is insanely hard and challenging) do to get a shot at going to space or the ISS as a visit?
Nomadhero_ on
What happens to the space potatos after you grow them?
Oc70b3r on
Is that velcro on the left side of the potato?
Item-Hairy on
SPUDNIK!
Thank you for your updates. Always amazing to see your posts!
itsameluigi1290 on
This looks like what happens in newer Resident Evil games when you pick up and examine items
beatlz-too on
This is how we get the Flood, do you want the Flood?
Yeomanroach on
Are you going to boil them, fry them or put them in a stew?
Po tay toes.
n_mcrae_1982 on
Boil it, mash it, stick it in a stew…
T0tesMyB0ats on
Protomolecule discovered.
SparkyMuffin on
Thought I was looking at a Resident Evil item inspection screen. This thing is (literally) out of this world
HamasDaddyOnFire on
Did it grow the velcro too? Space is weird.
devilishlydo on
Velcro Potato would be a good name for a band.
savor_every_morsel on
The Spudnik 1 is officially in orbit
nothing_in_dimona on
Even in space, potatoes be like, “WHERE’S THE FUCKING SOIL!”
uNk4rR4_F0lgad0 on
This pic looks like you are inspecting an item in a bethesda game
lavafish80 on
“WHERE’S THE FUCKING SOIL” -potato
dakotaray42 on
Dudes a regular mark Watney over here
Encrux615 on
It’s so friggin‘ exciting to have a real life astronaut just randomly post on a sub I happen to be interested in.
I just applied to ESA and posts like these are an inspiration to me.
Go spudnik!
John_Bumogus on
I was thinking about growing potatoes myself, but I don’t have enough space for them.
daan850 on
My first reaction was to scoff at “my”… But there is an actual nasa astronaut here
Those are his actual space potatoes
I did not expect this, good post to end my day with
Brookeswag69 on
Idk why, but I love so much that you have to attach it to something with velcro ❤️
SpecialIcy5356 on
brother, that potato is clearly afflicted with chaos…
30 Comments
I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off-duty time. This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.
Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass (including roots). Recognized by Andy Weir in his famous book/movie “The Martian,” potatoes will have a place in future exploration of space. So I thought it good to get started now! I call this one “Spudnik!”
More photos from space can be found on my [twitter](https://x.com/astro_Pettit) and Instagram, astro_pettit
How cool! Which way do the roots grow?
Very cool! I wonder how air potatoes would do compared to regular potatoes.
Well that is a very lovely potato!
I’ve seen this movie before.
That’s an alien egg.
Mark Whatney would be proud
Congrats on the space potato! Do you have any way to cook it, or will that be a seed potato for a future experiment?
So how often did you mutter “I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this”?
Every time you checked them or just at the start?
What can someome that hasn’t dedicated their entire life to become an astronaut (which I know is insanely hard and challenging) do to get a shot at going to space or the ISS as a visit?
What happens to the space potatos after you grow them?
Is that velcro on the left side of the potato?
SPUDNIK!
Thank you for your updates. Always amazing to see your posts!
This looks like what happens in newer Resident Evil games when you pick up and examine items
This is how we get the Flood, do you want the Flood?
Are you going to boil them, fry them or put them in a stew?
Po tay toes.
Boil it, mash it, stick it in a stew…
Protomolecule discovered.
Thought I was looking at a Resident Evil item inspection screen. This thing is (literally) out of this world
Did it grow the velcro too? Space is weird.
Velcro Potato would be a good name for a band.
The Spudnik 1 is officially in orbit
Even in space, potatoes be like, “WHERE’S THE FUCKING SOIL!”
This pic looks like you are inspecting an item in a bethesda game
“WHERE’S THE FUCKING SOIL” -potato
Dudes a regular mark Watney over here
It’s so friggin‘ exciting to have a real life astronaut just randomly post on a sub I happen to be interested in.
I just applied to ESA and posts like these are an inspiration to me.
Go spudnik!
I was thinking about growing potatoes myself, but I don’t have enough space for them.
My first reaction was to scoff at “my”… But there is an actual nasa astronaut here
Those are his actual space potatoes
I did not expect this, good post to end my day with
Idk why, but I love so much that you have to attach it to something with velcro ❤️
brother, that potato is clearly afflicted with chaos…