Spudnik sprouts: a purple space potato grows aboard the ISS

NASA astronaut Don Pettit grew a purple potato nicknamed Spudnik aboard the International Space Station, using a DIY grow-light terrarium and Velcro to anchor it in microgravity. The experiment showcases space-age agriculture and echoes The Martian’s theme of growing food off Earth, with Pettit noting how potatoes could play a key role in future long-duration missions.