Your Followed Topics

Top 2 don pettit News Today

#1
RIT helps NASA astronaut capture stunning images from International Space Station
#1 out of 2
1d ago

RIT helps NASA astronaut capture stunning images from International Space Station

https://www.whec.com/top-news/rit-helps-nasa-astronaut-capture-stunning-images-from-international-space-station/
Whec.com
  • NASA astronaut Don Pettit used a star-tracker device developed with RIT support to photograph space from the ISS.
  • RIT helped prototype the star-tracker on campus to assist Pettit's space photography.
  • A Scottsville fabricator helped finalize the star-tracker device.
  • The collaboration aimed to improve exposure and tracking for space photography.
Vote 0
0
#2
NASA Astronaut’s Viral ‘Alien Space Egg’ Photo Has a Domestic Twist
#2 out of 2
science1d ago

NASA Astronaut’s Viral ‘Alien Space Egg’ Photo Has a Domestic Twist

https://www.complex.com/life/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/nasa-alien-space-egg-photos-isshttps://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/nasa-astronaut-purple-potato-in-spacehttps://www.euronews.com/next/2026/03/27/space-creature-or-humble-potato-what-nasa-astronaut-don-pettits-latest-photo-actually-show
Complex.com and 2 more
  • A NASA astronaut shared a striking purple, egg-shaped object with tentacle-like extensions from the ISS, initially sparking wide online curiosity about a mysterious space find.
  • The mystery was later clarified: the object was a potato grown on the ISS, nicknamed Spudnik-1 during Expedition 72, tying the image to Pettit's space-gardening efforts.
  • The episode underscores NASA's ongoing effort to grow food in space, a key strategy as missions extend beyond low Earth orbit and feed future Artemis-era activities.
  • Pettit explained that the tendrils are early growth formations exaggerated by microgravity, illustrating how plants can look unusual in space.
  • The broader NASA aim is to develop reliable in-space crops to sustain crews on longer lunar missions and potential Moon bases.
  • Potatoes stand out as efficient for edible nutrition relative to plant mass, reinforcing their candidacy for long-duration space missions.
  • The Spudnik-1 moment informs Artemis program discussions by underscoring practical space agriculture for sustained presence beyond Earth.
  • Public reaction online ranged from humorous to skeptical, with fans joking about extreme measures and others likening the image to sci-fi imagery.
  • The BBC Sky at Night Magazine context places Pettit's potato-growing as part of ongoing space-garden experiments during Expedition 72 on the ISS.
  • The reference to The Martian underscores cultural inspiration behind Pettit's potato-growing for space exploration, highlighting potatoes' symbolic role in future missions.
  • Overall, the event blends space biology, exploration planning, and public curiosity, illustrating how everyday crops like potatoes can fit into long-term space settlement ideas.
Vote 2
0

Explore Your Interests

Unlimited Access
Personalized Feed
Full Experience
or
By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy.. You also agree to receive our newsletters, you can opt-out any time.

Explore Your Interests

Create an account and enjoy content that interests you with your personalized feed

Unlimited Access
Personalized Feed
Full Experience
or
By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy.. You also agree to receive our newsletters, you can opt-out any time.

Advertisement

Advertisement