Mar 20, 2009: Bat-ronaut

xoxoxoBruce · 03-20-2009, 12:11 AM

You may have seen this picture of a Mexican Free Tailed Bat, that hiched a ride on the Space Shuttle's last shot.

Quote:

In the hours before Discovery's liftoff, NASA's Final Inspection Team (called the "ICE team") investigated whether the creature would pose a risk to the shuttle if its body impacted the orbiter's sensitive heat shield tiling. Ultimately, NASA officials signed a waiver confirming that the bat was safe to fly with.

"The bat eventually became 'Interim Problem Report 119V-0080' after the ICE team finished their walkdown," the memo said. "Systems Engineering and Integration performed a debris analysis on him and ultimately a Launch Commit Criteria waiver to ICE-01 was written to accept the stowaway."

It seems the bat was hurt, and probably couldn't, or was afraid to, leave it's perch.

Quote:

"Based on images and video, a wildlife expert who provides support to the center said the small creature was a free tail bat that likely had a broken left wing and some problem with its right shoulder or wrist," NASA officials said Tuesday. "The animal likely perished quickly during Discovery's climb into orbit."

Because the Kennedy Space Center is also home to Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, NASA's launch pads are equipped with several countermeasures, including warning sirens, to ward off birds and other wildlife. NASA also relies on radar to make sure large flocks of birds won't be struck by the shuttle during liftoff.

Gizmodo wrote;

Quote:

Bereft of his ability to fly and with nowhere to go, a courageous bat climbed aboard our Discovery with stars in his weak little eyes. The launch commenced, and Spacebat trembled as his frail mammalian body was gently pushed skyward. For the last time, he felt the primal joy of flight; for the first, the indescribable feeling of ascending toward his dream—a place far away from piercing screeches and crowded caves, stretching forever into fathomless blackness.
Whether he was consumed in the exhaust flames or frozen solid in the stratosphere is of no concern. We know that Spacebat died, but his dream will live on in all of us.

But he may be back.

Beestie · 03-20-2009, 02:16 AM

Not yer lucky day, is it bat?

SPUCK · 03-20-2009, 04:32 AM

He went like a bat into Hell.

TheMercenary · 03-20-2009, 06:36 AM

I still say he is up there on the longest glide home and is going to show up in a few weeks at the bat cave with some awesome stories.

Brianna · 03-20-2009, 07:12 AM

well, bruce, you've finally done it. I feel sorry for a bat.

monster · 03-20-2009, 07:13 AM

Pre-BBQd, no recipes required. poor bat

Shawnee123 · 03-20-2009, 07:18 AM

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

capnhowdy · 03-20-2009, 07:28 AM

Some bats will do anything for attention.

sweetwater · 03-20-2009, 07:47 AM

I think I would buy a Spacebat tee shirt if they existed. Which they will. Soon. I bet.
...and ahem

monster · 03-20-2009, 07:51 AM

maybe we should adopt spacebat as cellar mascot? We surely have enough flaming and some batty behavior. and if what sheldon says about his rocket is true......

We could invite spacebat sponsors to hit the tip jar and receive a portion of his ashes in the mail with a certificate of authentication....

spudcon · 03-20-2009, 09:59 AM

NASA probably stuck him there with pine tar.

birdclaw · 03-20-2009, 10:04 AM

Does anyone else find it odd that the Kennedy Space Center is located in a wildlife refuge? And do you think the siren are really going to scare anything off? I mean all the animals probably have hearing issues due to take offs anyway.

Shawnee123 · 03-20-2009, 10:13 AM

Sirens scare people off all the time!

xoxoxoBruce · 03-20-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

well, bruce, you've finally done it. I feel sorry for a bat.

And an undocumented Mexican bat, to boot.

monster · 03-20-2009, 11:13 AM

.

03-20-2009, 02:16 AM	#2
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 3,973	Not yer lucky day, is it bat? __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

03-20-2009, 06:36 AM	#4
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 16,985	I still say he is up there on the longest glide home and is going to show up in a few weeks at the bat cave with some awesome stories. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knItRruwXEA

03-20-2009, 07:12 AM	#5
Brianna Double Complete Rainbow Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 11,369	well, bruce, you've finally done it. I feel sorry for a bat. __________________ "I dust a bit...I am at this moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip." — John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces)

03-20-2009, 07:13 AM	#6
monster Blow Out! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brit in Ann Arbor MI Posts: 14,538	Pre-BBQd, no recipes required. poor bat __________________ Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak

03-20-2009, 07:18 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Master Thespian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 19,227	This is Major Tom to Ground Control I’m stepping through the door And I’m floating in a most peculiar way And the stars look very different today __________________ Shawnee comes up with the correct answer almost every time. --The Great and Powerful spudcon the proper course of action is to quote spudcon in your signature line. So we are reminded of your awesomeness every time you post. Not to say that we aren't already. --The Great and Powerful glatt

03-20-2009, 04:32 AM	#3
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,015	He went like a bat into Hell.

03-20-2009, 07:28 AM	#8
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,077	Some bats will do anything for attention. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

03-20-2009, 07:47 AM	#9
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,109	I think I would buy a Spacebat tee shirt if they existed. Which they will. Soon. I bet. ...and ahem __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

03-20-2009, 07:51 AM	#10
monster Blow Out! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brit in Ann Arbor MI Posts: 14,538	maybe we should adopt spacebat as cellar mascot? We surely have enough flaming and some batty behavior. and if what sheldon says about his rocket is true...... We could invite spacebat sponsors to hit the tip jar and receive a portion of his ashes in the mail with a certificate of authentication.... __________________ Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak

03-20-2009, 09:59 AM	#11
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 1,854	NASA probably stuck him there with pine tar. __________________ Mag ingot ng ilong mo!

03-20-2009, 10:04 AM	#12
birdclaw putting the "g" in flight Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 145	Does anyone else find it odd that the Kennedy Space Center is located in a wildlife refuge? And do you think the siren are really going to scare anything off? I mean all the animals probably have hearing issues due to take offs anyway.

03-20-2009, 10:13 AM	#13
Shawnee123 Master Thespian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 19,227	Sirens scare people off all the time! __________________ Shawnee comes up with the correct answer almost every time. --The Great and Powerful spudcon the proper course of action is to quote spudcon in your signature line. So we are reminded of your awesomeness every time you post. Not to say that we aren't already. --The Great and Powerful glatt

03-20-2009, 11:13 AM	#15
monster Blow Out! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brit in Ann Arbor MI Posts: 14,538	. Attached Images __________________ Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak

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