(Image credit: NASA/Don Petit) NASA astronaut Don Pettit is showing off his pride and joy: a potato named "Spudnik." In their very minimal "free time," astronauts aboard the International Space Station generally play instruments, make art, take photos, and more. But Pettit spent his time making like Mark Watney in "The Martian," and growing potatoes in microgravity. Article continues below Pettit's latest mission to the International Space Station, Expedition 72, which landed back on Earth in April 2025, saw him make history as the oldest active astronaut, at age 70. As part of this mission, the crew conducted incredible research, including a study of the changes that can happen to your eyes due to living in space. But a year after the mission ended, Pettit's side project growing Spudnik is now finding its time in the spotlight. NASA astronaut Don Petit conducted this potato-growing experiment aboard the International Space Station.…