Bat hichhikes on space shuttle [Archive]

andiwm2003

Mar 20, 2009, 07:47 AM

(unfortunately only in german language)

a bat sat on the outside of the big tank of the space shuttle when it started and took off with it. They assume the bat died during the start though.:(

http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,614436,00.html

here are the pics:

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-40828-2.html#backToArticle=614436

Raid

Mar 20, 2009, 09:32 AM

Yeah I saw a shot of the bat on Daily Planet a few nights ago. I was surprised at the high res images of the bat. The poor thing was probably too scared to let go once the ignition sequence started and thus sealed it's fate. I'd like to think that it made it to the stratoshpere (and thus set a record for all Bat-kind ;) ), but it probably couldn't hold on for very long and got toasted in the rocket exhaust. :o

question fear

Mar 20, 2009, 10:29 AM

CNN ran an article about it. The scariest part was the article ended with something like "It is unknown if the bat is still stuck to the shuttle" or something like that...my GF did not find it as amusing as I did that I burst out laughing and said "THIS IS HOW MUTANTS ARE MADE!!!"

Also, did anyone else think "Giant Bat vs Mothra" when they read this? Just me? Ok then.

andiwm2003

Mar 20, 2009, 10:43 AM

....................................... I was surprised at the high res images of the bat. ............................

since the falling foam pads resulted in a shuttle crash i guess they do high res imageas from the entire start from all angles to have advanced warning if there is damage to the shuttle. especially the heat shield ceramic tiles. then they can try to repair the damage in orbit.

it's just sad and funny at the same time to imaging the bat hanging on for life and at 3G it lets go and gets evaporated in the rocket blast.

Raid

Mar 20, 2009, 11:35 AM

Also, did anyone else think "Giant Bat vs Mothra" when they read this? Just me? Ok then. Honestly no, but the idea of two japanese girls chanting "Motha-ra!" behind the countdown clock at the launch is quite amusing! :) (to me at least)

sushi

Mar 20, 2009, 11:43 AM

The scariest part was the article ended with something like "It is unknown if the bat is still stuck to the shuttle" or something like that.
Prime example of poor journalism.

The picture clearly shows that the bat was on the large external tank and not the Shuttle itself.

it's just sad and funny at the same time to imaging the bat hanging on for life and at 3G it lets go and gets evaporated in the rocket blast.
Can you imagine if you were the bat? :p

Honestly no, but the idea of two japanese girls chanting "Motha-ra!" behind the countdown clock at the launch is quite amusing! :) (to me at least)
Snort.

joepunk

Mar 20, 2009, 01:01 PM

I guess it was flying like a Bat Outta Hell.

andiwm2003

Mar 20, 2009, 03:54 PM

CNN ran an article about it. The scariest part was the article ended with something like "It is unknown if the bat is still stuck to the shuttle" or something like that...my GF did not find it as amusing as I did that I burst out laughing and said "THIS IS HOW MUTANTS ARE MADE!!!"

..................

well, this bat certainly burned up with the tank after separation if it made it that far:D

what is really scary is what else may be stuck at the shuttle and is now up there taking over the space station:eek:

Abstract

Mar 20, 2009, 04:16 PM

Silly bat. Only rich Russians are allowed to pointless tag along on a shuttle mission.

I blame the organisers for their lack of signage.

Jaffa Cake

Mar 20, 2009, 06:56 PM

When it's stomping Tokyo into piles of rubble, then we'll be sorry.

jonbravo77

Mar 20, 2009, 07:01 PM

I guess it was flying like a Bat Outta Hell.

But I am sure it was not singing "I would do anything for love"... Sorry, Meatloaf reference

Prof.

Mar 20, 2009, 07:14 PM

It would have been funnier if the bat was inside the shuttle.

sushi

Mar 20, 2009, 07:39 PM

When it's stomping Tokyo into piles of rubble, then we'll be sorry.
Hey, last night I think that I saw something move in the mountains west of Tokyo. :eek:

;) :D

ucfgrad93

Mar 20, 2009, 07:55 PM

I saw this, too. Apparently, this is not the first time that bats have been spotted on the external fuel tank, however, the others were smart enough to let go before liftoff.

Lord Blackadder

Mar 20, 2009, 10:34 PM

Weird. They take some very hi-res images of that tank though. What a closeup!

When I first read the title I thought perhaps someone stashed a Louisville Slugger on board. :rolleyes:

pilotError

Mar 21, 2009, 08:08 AM

They had an expert take a look at the closeups and it looked like the bat had a broken wing and was holding on for dear life.

You have to wonder where it ended up though... Are it's little legs strong enough to make it the first 50k feet?

I'm wondering if they'll find two little feet still stuck on the tank when they fish it out of the ocean.

SactoGuy18

Mar 21, 2009, 08:47 AM

I doubt the bat would have survived even seconds after liftoff. The acoustical shockwave from the solid booster ignition would have the end of the bat, alas.

andiwm2003

Mar 21, 2009, 09:31 AM

...............................
I'm wondering if they'll find two little feet still stuck on the tank when they fish it out of the ocean.

i thought the tank burns up. the boosters get fished out of the ocean.

I doubt the bat would have survived even seconds after liftoff. The acoustical shockwave from the solid booster ignition would have the end of the bat, alas.

i thought the picture was taken after the boosters fired.

anyway, i hope the bat made is up very high......

MacNut

Mar 25, 2009, 10:27 PM

Yeah I saw a shot of the bat on Daily Planet a few nights ago.Wasn't the Daily Planet Superman not Batman.:p

obeygiant

Apr 4, 2009, 12:04 AM

http://i41.tinypic.com/103wx34.jpg

Thought this was appropriate. :)

djellison

Apr 4, 2009, 03:58 AM

i thought the tank burns up. the boosters get fished out of the ocean.

i thought the picture was taken after the boosters fired.

anyway, i hope the bat made is up very high......

You are half right. The orange external tank does burn up - it makes it to the Indian Ocean, usually.

The photos, however, were taken by the walk-down crew. They're engineers and photo-documentarians who go to the shuttle after the fueling is complete and survey the external tank with IR cameras, binoculars, and cameras - to check for ice etc. It is one of them who will have taken the photo of the bat.

They leave before launch, and get several miles away before ignition.

Doug

ucfgrad93

Apr 4, 2009, 01:14 PM

http://i41.tinypic.com/103wx34.jpg

Thought this was appropriate. :)

Snif, snif. Anybody got a tissue?:(

Counterfit

Apr 4, 2009, 02:38 PM

http://i41.tinypic.com/103wx34.jpg

Thought this was appropriate. :)

Epic ****ing win.

takao

Apr 4, 2009, 04:16 PM

http://i41.tinypic.com/103wx34.jpg

Thought this was appropriate. :)

i second the "epic win" emotion .. just too great

JG271

Apr 4, 2009, 06:29 PM

I read that the bat froze some way up and then fell back to earth. But who knows, I think orbiting earth would be quite a good way to go... for a bat:D

RIP space bat!

andiwm2003

Apr 4, 2009, 11:03 PM

......................................................
The photos, however, were taken by the walk-down crew. They're engineers and photo-documentarians who go to the shuttle after the fueling is complete and survey the external tank with IR cameras, binoculars, and cameras - to check for ice etc. It is one of them who will have taken the photo of the bat.

They leave before launch, and get several miles away before ignition.

Doug

you're sure about this? the article says this is the pic. look's to me not like pre launch.:confused:

http://www.quicksnapper.com/files/1493/95959521349D81EB894BCE_m.png

http://www.quicksnapper.com/files/1493/79122370149D81EC7A8B61_m.png