Tentacled object growing on ISS sparks calls to ‘kill it with fire!’

A NASA astronaut has shared a photo of a bizarre tentacled object growing on the International Space Station (ISS). 

Don Pettit snapped the photo during Expedition 72, which took place from 23 September 2024 until 18 April 2025. 

The unusual object almost looks like an egg, with black tentacles erupting from the base.

Responding to the astronaut on X (formerly Twitter), one user said: ‘Kill it with fire!!!’

Another wrote: ‘Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.’

And one joked: ‘Looks like a mimic hatching out of an egg,’ in reference to the 2017 film, Prey. 

While the object undeniably looks strange, there’s actually a rather mundane explanation – it’s a potato. 

‘Spudnik–1, an orbiting potato on @Space_Station!’ Mr Pettit explained. 

On X, Mr Pettit explained how the potato ended up on the ISS. 

‘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.’

‘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!’

In response to the photo, one fan asked Mr Pettit how it compared to growing potatoes on Earth. 

The astronaut responded: ‘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.’

His post has garnered huge interest, with almost 100,000 views at the time of writing. 

‘someone needs to figure out a zero–g fryer asap,’ one X user joked. 

Another added: ‘Nice Velcro docking adaptor!’

And one quipped: ‘I hope you brought actual fertiliser this time,’ in reference to The Martian, in which the lead character is forced to grow potatoes in his own waste. 

To date, astronauts have grown a huge range of fruits, vegetables, and even flowers on the ISS. 

‘Our team at Kennedy Space Center envisions planting more produce in the future, such as tomatoes and peppers,’ NASA explained. 

‘Foods like berries, certain beans and other antioxidant–rich foods would have the added benefit of providing some space radiation protection for crew members who eat them.’

EXPLAINED: THE $100 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SITS 250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH

The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000. 

Crews have come mainly from the US and Russia, but the Japanese space agency JAXA and European space agency ESA have also sent astronauts. 

Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen.

ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.

The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion (£2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, with the remaining funding coming from international partners, including Europe, Russia and Japan.

So far 244 individuals from 19 countries have visited the station, and among them eight private citizens who spent up to $50 million for their visit.

There is an ongoing debate about the future of the station beyond 2025, when it is thought some of the original structure will reach ‘end of life’.

Russia, a major partner in the station, plans to launch its own orbital platform around then, with Axiom Space, a private firm, planning to send its own modules for purely commercial use to the station at the same time. 

NASA, ESA, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are working together to build a space station in orbit around the moon, and Russia and China are working on a similar project, that would also include a base on the surface.