Astronaut Shares Chilling Pic Of ‘Tentacled Object’ Growing On Side Of Space Station

NASA astronaut Don Pettit sparked a mini panic online after posting a photo from the International Space Station that looked like something out of a sci-fi horror flick.

The strange, tentacled object appeared to be “growing” on the side of the station during Expedition 72, which ran from Sept. 23, 2024, through April 18, 2025. In the image, the lumpy “egg” shape sits above dark, stringy tendrils that seem to spill out from the base.

Naturally, X users ran with it.

“Kill it with fire!!!” one person replied.

Another added, “Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.”

And one joked, “Looks like a mimic hatching out of an egg,” referencing the 2017 film, Prey.

But Pettit quickly brought the story back down to Earth, or at least, as close to Earth as you can get while orbiting 250 miles above it. The “tentacles” weren’t alien limbs at all.

Spudnik-1, an orbiting potato on @Space_Station!

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… pic.twitter.com/MXsoV20vJ8

— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) March 20, 2026

“Spudnik–1, an orbiting potato on @Space_Station!” Pettit wrote.

The astronaut explained the oddly dramatic look came from a potato he brought up as part of a small personal “space garden” project.

“I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off–duty time,” he said.

“This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.”

Pettit also made the practical case for why the humble spud is worth the effort, especially as the U.S. eyes longer missions and more ambitious goals beyond low Earth orbit.

“Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass (including roots).”

“Recognized by Andy Weir in his book/movie “The Martian,” potatoes will have a place in future exploration of space.”

“So I thought it good to get started now!”

One follower asked how growing potatoes in space compares to growing them on Earth. Pettit didn’t sugarcoat it.

“The roots would grow in all directions absent gravity, and all plants I have ever grown in space have grown far slower than they would have on Earth.”

The post racked up major attention, with viewers tossing in their own wisecracks.

“someone needs to figure out a zero–g fryer asap,” one user joked.

Another liked the improvisation: “Nice Velcro docking adaptor!”

NASA has long leaned into experiments that test how food can be grown off-planet, and astronauts have already grown everything from vegetables to flowers aboard the ISS. The agency has said it envisions expanding the menu with more produce down the road, including tomatoes and peppers, plus antioxidant-rich options that could offer extra benefits for crews spending long stretches in space.

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