Bat Hitches Ride on Space Shuttle

[Scott McCrea]

Holy external fuel tanks, Batman!

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/slidesh ... etail.html

[graveleye]

that's kind of sad. He probably didn't make it into orbit. In fact, that's a pretty big bottle rocket, so I bet if he let go, he didn't make it through that either. Poor little guy.

[wendy]

awww looks like a mexican free-tail

[Ralph E. Powers]

Hey he had... high hopes, he's got high hopes... yeah sad... that's one small hop for a bat... one ...giant flight for batkind.
Nothing really they could've done about it, they're certainly not going to stop the launch just for that little feller.

[wendy]

i just got to thinking, I wonder if there are more bats living in the building that they store the shuttle in? Do they usually bring it out to the launch pad during the night or during the day? And how long is it on the pad prior to the launch? Or since this was an evening time launch, around the time the bats take flight, was he just stopping by to say bon voyage before hitting the night sky for dinner?

[ArCaver]

Another article here: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/09 ... waway.html and: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30 ... 8.html#bat (scroll down to March 15 11:07 AM)
Good news is NASA expected the cooling of the tank to cause the bat to leave before launch. Could these be fruit bats as stated or is this being written by someone who refers to all bats as fruit bats?

[Squirrel Girl]

I think it's an extreme technique to control WNS.


Sorry! I do take the health and welfare of our bat friends very seriously, but sometimes I can't help making jokes.

[cavemanjonny]

And another link on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/03/1 ... index.html

I think it's a fantastic way to go! Things die every day, but this one went out in style. Way to go!

[mmkuhns]

i just got to thinking, I wonder if there are more bats living in the building that they store the shuttle in? Do they usually bring it out to the launch pad during the night or during the day? And how long is it on the pad prior to the launch? Or since this was an evening time launch, around the time the bats take flight, was he just stopping by to say bon voyage before hitting the night sky for dinner?

Im sure there are bats living in the vehicle assembly building, that place is so big it has its own weather. The bat probobly wasnt stuck on the tank since they rolled it to the pad though, it was out there at least a week.

[wendy]

Another article here: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/09 ... waway.html and: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30 ... 8.html#bat (scroll down to March 15 11:07 AM)
Good news is NASA expected the cooling of the tank to cause the bat to leave before launch. Could these be fruit bats as stated or is this being written by someone who refers to all bats as fruit bats?

As far as I know we don't have fruit bats native to Florida. The Bacardi Rum family has a fruit bat sanctuary here in Gainesville that has only fruit bats, that and some at some zoos are the only fruit bats I have ever seen here. I am sticking with my Mexican Free-tail guess.

[wendy]

ahh haa, NASA biologist properly named the bat and seems to think he was injured

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... chbat.html

[Bill Putnam]

If it had a broken wing as the article indicated, it was not likely to survive regardless. So I agree with Jonny - what a way to go out! Reminiscent of Slim Pickens exit scene in Dr. Strangelove...

[Cheryl Jones]

I think it's a fantastic way to go! Things die every day, but this one went out in style. Way to go!

Maybe this was his exit strategy. WNS, starvation...... or blast off into space. We always knew bats were cool. :bat wearing sunglasses:

But what about white nose-cone syndrome?

[cavemanjonny]

But what about white nose-cone syndrome?

I believe WNCS has a 100% mortality rate.

[Steven Johnson]

And now for the heartwarming tribute video:

"R.I.P. SpaceBat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibq2IwznCgc