Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space

**Jason** · 03-20-2009, 09:04 AM

A small bat that was spotted blasting off with the space shuttle Sunday and clinging to the back side of Discovery's external fuel tank apparently held on throughout the launch.

NASA hoped the bat would fly away before the spacecraft's Sunday evening liftoff, but photos from the launch now show the bat holding on for dear life throughout the fiery ride.

"He did change the direction he was pointing from time to time throughout countdown but ultimately never flew away," states a NASA memo obtained by SPACE.com. "Infrared imagery shows he was alive and not frozen like many would think ... Liftoff imagery analysis confirmed that he held on until at least the vehicle cleared [the] tower before we lost sight of him."

Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., where Discovery launched from a seaside pad, said the bat's outlook after launch appears grim.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200903...arideintospace

**bruiser** · 03-20-2009, 11:34 AM

Oh man, all hell's gonna break loose when PETA finds out about this!

csc2000e · 03-20-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruiser

Oh man, all hell's gonna break loose when PETA finds out about this!

All the bat wanted to do was go out with a bang! Nothing PETA can do about it! Unless they sue and get some money for the poor bats wife and kids...

**sobeit** · 03-21-2009, 05:38 AM

I would not be surprised if there is not a lawsuit over this by some group claiming nasa should have moved the bat prior to launch.

**WereBo** · 03-21-2009, 08:06 AM

I think they'd have a problem removing the bat, once the fuse has been lit...

**Jason** · 03-21-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sobeit

I would not be surprised if there is not a lawsuit over this by some group claiming nasa should have moved the bat prior to launch.

Acutally NASA should not have built near the bats home. They should have done an environmental study, and once found that this rare bat lived within 100 miles they should have moved onto the next spot. Think of all the ants they have displaced too.

**asidman** · 03-21-2009, 02:56 PM

And dont forget the plants! Plants have feelings too

**Fren Banklin** · 03-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Was this a FEMALE bat, or only a male bat ?

What color was this bat, and what injustices had this bat suffered throughout it's life.

You people are trying to minimalize the scope of what has taken place here. That was not "just" a bat; it was representative of ALL bats, and victims of injustice everywhere.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

**WereBo** · 03-22-2009, 10:14 PM

Why 'only' a male bat? It might have been an illegal immigrant, a fugitive bat running from the law or just plain ol' feeling suicidal and wanting to go out in style, to be remembered by batkind for generations to come.

**Fren Banklin** · 03-22-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WereBo

Why 'only' a male bat? It might have been an illegal immigrant, a fugitive bat running from the law or just plain ol' feeling suicidal and wanting to go out in style, to be remembered by batkind for generations to come.

It is widely known that male bats have historically oppressed smaller and weaker female bats, and used their larger size to take from the females that which was rightfully theirs. Despite the fact that their darker color classifies them as Victims, there is a heirarchy within the victim class, and dark female bats are greater victims than are dark male bats, so we need to be more concerned for the welfare of the darker female bats than the darker male bats.

If you had not been socialized to oppress and abuse women (and persons of color), you would know this, instinctively. This is just one of the many reasons why government-sponsered sensitivity training is necessary. Funding for NASA should be cut, in order to pay for this program.

**zuluclayman** · 03-23-2009, 12:42 AM

maybe he (or she), like me, just wanted to go into space and have a look around at things - they say curiosity killed the cat, well......... bye bye batty batty batty

**asidman** · 03-23-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fren Banklin

It is widely known that male bats have historically oppressed smaller and weaker female bats, and used their larger size to take from the females that which was rightfully theirs. Despite the fact that their darker color classifies them as Victims, there is a heirarchy within the victim class, and dark female bats are greater victims than are dark male bats, so we need to be more concerned for the welfare of the darker female bats than the darker male bats.

If you had not been socialized to oppress and abuse women (and persons of color), you would know this, instinctively. This is just one of the many reasons why government-sponsered sensitivity training is necessary. Funding for NASA should be cut, in order to pay for this program.

In certain populations of the darker bats, and occasionally the lighter bats, it has been documented that groups have an older female leader, that has the male bats firmly under her wings, there have been reports of abusive behaviour towards the male bats. These male bats grow up with feelings of inadequacy while the females are given all the benefits that are bestowed on the male population in other groups.

While a small percentage at the moment, there is a increase of these types of groups due to males being told that they are equal and should treat the women with more respect. There are more and more females who have realised that this is the time to jump in and control these males who are still in doubt with these things they are being told.

**kinbard** · 03-23-2009, 09:28 AM

Nah, the bat was supposed to be there. Its part of the new satelite program. Saving money where we can.

**Fren Banklin** · 03-23-2009, 10:08 PM

That bat was unwillingly sacrificed to technologically advance and benefit all of humanity. We need to commemorate this bat's life's contribution with a National Holiday.

**sobeit** · 03-23-2009, 10:12 PM

see the following tribute to the bat.

YouTube - Space Bat

Mcninjaguy · 03-23-2009, 10:15 PM

this was a follow up story to bat boy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_boy

**l_b_rex** · 03-26-2009, 06:55 AM

Did this actually make the news???

I ate toast this morning in under 5 minutes...put my story in the news too please.

**kinbard** · 03-26-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_b_rex

Did this actually make the news???

Dude, its a bat hitching a ride to space. Have you not heard about the illegal immigration issues we've been having? And now they are trying to take our moon...

**WereBo** · 03-26-2009, 01:09 PM

How could they survive there? There's not a lot of roof-joists to hang underneath, upside down.

**kinbard** · 03-26-2009, 01:22 PM

They are going for the American Dream. And change.

03-20-2009, 09:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jason Faugh a ballagh Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pasco, FL Posts: 8,476 OS: Windows Vista My System Blog Entries: 2	Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space A small bat that was spotted blasting off with the space shuttle Sunday and clinging to the back side of Discovery's external fuel tank apparently held on throughout the launch. NASA hoped the bat would fly away before the spacecraft's Sunday evening liftoff, but photos from the launch now show the bat holding on for dear life throughout the fiery ride. "He did change the direction he was pointing from time to time throughout countdown but ultimately never flew away," states a NASA memo obtained by SPACE.com. "Infrared imagery shows he was alive and not frozen like many would think ... Liftoff imagery analysis confirmed that he held on until at least the vehicle cleared [the] tower before we lost sight of him." Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., where Discovery launched from a seaside pad, said the bat's outlook after launch appears grim. http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200903...arideintospace __________________ Posting Tips \| Advice for New People \| Common Fixes \| Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh

03-20-2009, 11:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
bruiser TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,973 OS: xp	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space Oh man, all hell's gonna break loose when PETA finds out about this!

03-21-2009, 05:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space I would not be surprised if there is not a lawsuit over this by some group claiming nasa should have moved the bat prior to launch. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-21-2009, 08:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,480 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space I think they'd have a problem removing the bat, once the fuse has been lit... __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

03-21-2009, 02:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
asidman Will rule the World Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Port Elizabeth Posts: 4,537 OS: XP SP3, Vista SP1, Windows 7 RC My System	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space And dont forget the plants! Plants have feelings too __________________ Submit New Articles Here Try before posting \| Read before posting \| Advice to New Visitors How to post a Screenshot \| Posting system specs \| Posting images (VERY NB)

03-22-2009, 05:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fren Banklin gone Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,912 OS: gone	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space Was this a FEMALE bat, or only a male bat ? What color was this bat, and what injustices had this bat suffered throughout it's life. You people are trying to minimalize the scope of what has taken place here. That was not "just" a bat; it was representative of ALL bats, and victims of injustice everywhere. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. __________________ gone

03-22-2009, 10:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,480 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space Why 'only' a male bat? It might have been an illegal immigrant, a fugitive bat running from the law or just plain ol' feeling suicidal and wanting to go out in style, to be remembered by batkind for generations to come. __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

03-23-2009, 12:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space maybe he (or she), like me, just wanted to go into space and have a look around at things - they say curiosity killed the cat, well......... bye bye batty batty batty __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

03-23-2009, 09:28 AM	#13 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space Nah, the bat was supposed to be there. Its part of the new satelite program. Saving money where we can. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista

03-23-2009, 10:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fren Banklin gone Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,912 OS: gone	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space That bat was unwillingly sacrificed to technologically advance and benefit all of humanity. We need to commemorate this bat's life's contribution with a National Holiday. __________________ gone

03-23-2009, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space see the following tribute to the bat. YouTube - Space Bat __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-23-2009, 10:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space this was a follow up story to bat boy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_boy

03-26-2009, 06:55 AM	#17 (permalink)
l_b_rex The almighty Dr.Tran! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,105 OS: Vista Home Premium 32 bit	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space Did this actually make the news??? I ate toast this morning in under 5 minutes...put my story in the news too please. __________________ If my avatar piques your interest, go to google and search Dr.Tran video and have a look.

03-26-2009, 01:09 PM	#19 (permalink)
WereBo Resident Village Idiot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SE London, UK Posts: 14,480 OS: Win-7, XP-Pro SP3 My System	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space How could they survive there? There's not a lot of roof-joists to hang underneath, upside down. __________________ I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.

03-26-2009, 01:22 PM	#20 (permalink)
kinbard TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,459 OS: Experimenter	Re: Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space They are going for the American Dream. And change. __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both XP Repair Malware Removal Vista Repair Downgrade Vista