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Don Pettit

All articles tagged with #don pettit

science11 days ago•4 min saved

Spudnik-1: Orbiting Potato Mistaken for Tentacled Alien

An apparently purple lifeform photographed on the ISS by NASA astronaut Don Pettit was revealed to be a purple potato sprouting in a hydroponic setup, with the so-called tentacles being sprouts and a Velcro patch keeping the potato in place. Nicknamed Spudnik-1, the potato highlights Pettit’s space gardening hobby, which has produced several crops in orbit; potatoes have been grown in space since 1995, though growth in microgravity tends to be slower.

via ScienceAlert|

#don-pettit #hydroponics #iss

science13 days ago•33 min saved

Spudnik-1: Internet Freaks Out Over an Off-World Potato

NASA astronaut Don Pettit's photo of an egg-shaped potato sprouting on the International Space Station — nicknamed Spudnik-1 — sparked online fear, as many netizens mistook the tentacle-like sprouts and white cilia for an alien egg. Pettit says the tuber was part of a space-garden experiment during Expedition 72 (2024–25); in microgravity roots can grow in all directions, and the white filaments were Velcro to keep them from floating away. The potato's fate isn’t known, but the project showcases potatoes as a practical crop for growing food off Earth.

via Yahoo|

#don-pettit #international-space-station #off-world-agriculture

space15 days ago•6 min saved

ISS Tentacle Photo Turns Out to Be an Early Purple Potato

A NASA astronaut’s social-media photo of a tentacled growth on the ISS sparked jokes, but Don Pettit explains it’s an early purple potato growing in his improvised space-garden terrarium, part of ongoing research into cultivating crops in microgravity for future long-duration missions.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#don-pettit #iss #potatoes

science16 days ago•32 min saved

Spudnik on the ISS: space garden potato steals the show

NASA astronaut Don Pettit posted a Expedition 72 photo of a bizarre tentacled object on the International Space Station; it’s actually an early purple potato nicknamed ‘Spudnik’ tied to a grow-light terrarium with Velcro. Pettit explained potatoes were grown in space as part of his off-duty gardening, noting roots behave differently in microgravity, while fans joked “kill it with fire.” The story highlights ongoing space agriculture efforts aboard the ISS and the station’s role as a long-running international lab.

via dailymail.co.uk|

#don-pettit #iss #nasa

science8 months ago•2 min saved

Stunning Cosmic Photos from the International Space Station

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, renowned for his stunning space photography from the ISS, shares a collection of breathtaking images capturing cosmic phenomena, city lights from orbit, auroras, and deep space scenes, highlighting the beauty of our universe from space.

via New York Post|

#cosmic-images #don-pettit #international-space-station

space1 year ago•2 min saved

Astronaut Captures Stunning Galaxy Views from ISS with Homemade Star Tracker

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, currently aboard the International Space Station, has captured a stunning deep space photograph using a homemade star tracker. This device compensates for the ISS's rapid movement, allowing for long-exposure shots that keep stars in perfect focus while the Earth's surface appears blurred. Pettit's ingenuity in creating this tool highlights his engineering prowess, similar to his previous invention of a zero-G coffee cup. The star tracker enables the capture of vastly more stars than typical short-exposure images.

via Space.com|

#astrophotography #don-pettit #engineering

science-and-technology1 year ago•2 min saved

Astronaut Captures Stunning Image of Nearby Galaxies from SpaceX Capsule

NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured a stunning long-exposure image of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds from a SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. These two dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way are visible only from the Southern Hemisphere or space. The photo, shared by NASA, highlights the unique perspective astronauts have from the International Space Station. Pettit, at 69, is NASA's oldest active astronaut and took the image during his fourth spaceflight. The Magellanic Clouds are known for their irregular shapes and contain billions of stars, including the notable WOH G64 star.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #don-pettit #magellanic-clouds

science-and-technology1 year ago•0 min saved

NASA's Don Pettit Engages with Everyday Astronaut

NASA astronaut Don Pettit participated in an in-flight event with the "Everyday Astronaut" YouTube channel as part of ISS Expedition 72. The event, which took place on December 17, 2024, featured discussions with Pettit, who is a NASA Flight Engineer, and was accessible via a video player for viewers.

via NASA (.gov)|

#don-pettit #everyday-astronaut #in-flight-event

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Vibrant Star Trail Captured Through Space's Largest Window"

NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured a stunning photo from the International Space Station in 2012, showcasing a colorful star trail through the Cupola module. The image reveals Earth's horizon, green airglow, red airglow, purple aurora, and city lights streaking by. Pettit, known for his astrophotography skills and inventive nature, will return to space in September at the age of 70, continuing to inspire with his exploration of the universe.

via Ars Technica|

#astronaut #astronomy #astrophotography