‘Kill it with fire!’ Weird tentacled object growing on Space Station sparks wild alien frenzy

NASA astronaut Don Pettit has sent the internet crazy after sharing a snap of an object which looks like an egg with black tentacles sprouting out of it

A NASA astronaut sparked an internet meltdown after sharing a photo of a bizarre looking tentacled object growing on the International Space Station.

Don Pettit took the snap of the weird object – which looks like an egg with black tentacles sprouting out – during Expedition 72.

The weird sight is actually a harmless potato, but it hasn’t stopped online commentators pleading with the scientist to get rid of it.

Pettit, who nicknamed his crop “Spudnik-1,” wrote: “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.”

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

However his followers on the social media platform X were not very impressed. Darcus commented: “Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.”

While Adéla Zelinková said: “Kill it with fire!!!”

Pettit explained: “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.” Pettit conducted the experiment during his time on NASA’s Expedition 72 mission aboard the ISS.

The development comes after NASA unveiled plans to construct a permanent base on the moon, just days ahead of a historic lunar mission. The ambitious project will utilise robotic landers and a fleet of drones, with the total cost estimated at £16 billion.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, revealing that NASA has altered its lunar exploration strategy, scrapping previous plans for a space station in lunar orbit. This strategic shift from a space station to a lunar base aims to significantly broaden humanity’s footprint in space, as the US races to establish a lunar presence before China sends its own astronauts there by around 2030.

This new NASA endeavour comes just days prior to the launch of the Artemis 2 mission, set to be the first to carry humans on a lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972.

NASA is gearing up to launch Artemis 2 at 6.24pm Eastern Daylight Time on April 1, which translates to 11.24pm in the UK. The mission comprises a 10-day manned flight carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, serving as the exploration vehicle.

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