The “alien” is actually a potato. Specifically, it is a purple tuber nicknamed Spudnik-1, grown and photographed by Pettit. While the photo looks like a sci-fi horror prop, it actually represents the front line of human survival: a proof-of-concept for a journey to Mars.

The NASA-led Artemis II mission, carrying a four-person crew beyond Earth orbit for the first time since 1972, is conducting a seven-hour flyby of the moon.

ATLANTA — As Artemis astronauts venture farther from Earth than ever before, a local Georgia company is helping to keep them safe. Astronauts will wear crew active dosimeters, developed by NASA and Atlanta-based Mirion Technologies, to monitor radiation levels throughout the mission.

As NASA and the China National Space Agency plan missions to Mars, one major concern is how the planet’s weaker gravity will affect astronauts. A recent study sheds light on the potential risks, particularly for our muscles.

Space travel is not as easy as it looks, though. The human body is not designed to function properly outside the gravitational pull of Earth. Muscles atrophy, bones become less dense, and walking becomes an exercise.