Mar 19 2009Aww: Injured Bat Blasts Off For Outerspace

rip space bat.jpg

A Free-Tailed Chiroptera bat, believed to have recently injured its wing and shoulder, clung to the foam exterior of the Space Shuttle's fuel tank just before launch on the morning of Sunday, March 15th. And moments later, as the shuttle took off, he became....Space Bat.

*music fades in*
I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the....oh shit -- broken wing, I'm screwed. Quick, I'll just hold on to this thing. Whoa, what was that noise? Oh God, oh God -- WHEEEEEEEEEE!!

Per NASA:

The animal likely perished quickly during Discovery's climb into orbit.

*music abruptly stops* Wow NASA, way to inspire. You know what -- I don't even want to be an astronaut anymore, I want to be a policeman.

This post dedicated to the memory of Space Bat, who reminds us all: Aim for the moon....even if you miss, you'll burn up in the atmosphere.

Tribute video to Space Bat after the jump.

Shuttle-Riding Bat Dies The Most Glorious Death Imaginable [gizmodo]

Thanks to meeotch and Pat, who tried to stow away on the shuttle but were caught during a pre-flight inspection. Better luck next time, guys.

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Reader Comments

We will remember you for all time. RIP Bat.

First!

I thought they were using galactic sonar now, but here it turns out it was an accident

So the so called "space program" is nothing but an intricate scheme to kill innocent bats?

;_:..that's a really sad picture. That bat clinging for dear life to the side of the shuttle...I hope he didn't suffer much.

Imagine if that Gamer Chick got a hold of a rocket, she would fly up in space and we would have a new moon.

that gamer chick uses the rocket as a vibrator yall

PETA is going to lose their minds over this. By next week we'll all be hearing about how PETA is suing NASA for animal cruelty. Retards.

Funny, sad, and freakishly awesome. All the things I've come to expect from geekologie!

The brave do not fear the grave

If this is a bat then the Space Shuttle just earned 3 xp for killing it of, at least according to the points in AoL.

Using the theme from "Enterprise" in the video: inspired!

Here's hoping that all that happened was his intrinsic field was removed. Now we just have to cross our fingers and wait for him to reconstitute himself and we can bask in the blue glow of the giant bat-wang of Doctor ManBATtan

Geez, this is clearly an alien bat trying to get back to space and the the super hot nekkid space babe that is his queen.

Didn't ANYONE see "Lifeforce"?

1. spacebat is gonna be the new "lolercat" meme

2. peta is pissed at nasa

it reminds me of this thing i wrote some time back
(spoiler alert: catch22's identity revealed.... proceed not to give a shite)

http://www.ubersite.com/m/111716

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=69819433&blogId=313493926

I'd like my bat extra crispy please

Bats are surprisingly cute up close. Never would have guessed it. I feel bad for the little guy. Pretty rad way to die, though, i guess.

I wouldn't have thought the surface of the rocket was that rough, you would think it would use less fuel if it were smoother and caused less drag. Then again, it might be more expensive to spend all that time to make the surface smooth than to just pay for a couple million dollars worth of extra rocket fuel...

Hell yeah bat, that's the way I want to go. I wonder if they would still launch if I clung to the side of the rocket after they started countdown...

Well the men come in these places
And the men are all the same
You dont look at their faces
And you dont ask their names
You dont think of them as human
You dont think of them at all
You keep your mind on the money
Keeping your eyes on the wall

Chorus
Im your private dancer
A dancer for money
Ill do what you want me to do
Im your private dancer
A dancer money
Any old music will do

I wanna make a million dollars
I wanna live out by the sea
Have a husband and some children
Yeah I guess I want a family
All the men come in these places
And the men are all the same
You dont look at their faces
And you dont ask their names
Repeat chorus twice

Deutschmarks or dollars
American express will nicely thank you
Let me loosen up your collar
Tell me do you wanna see me do the shimmy again
Repeat chorus

That may be the funniest post I've seen yet...actually had me laughing out loud

@19

You're trying to hard to be the next Daisy. Quit it.

Definite Photoshop job.

reminds me of a story i wrote some time back

(warning catch22 identity spoiler alert... as if any of you care)

http://www.ubersite.com/m/111716

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=blog.view&friendId=69819433&blogId=313493926

Space Bat Lives!

Remember Kids:

It's better to burn out than fade away!

Dang, too bad about the little guy...but fish happens (read: bat happens?)

Who cares if PETA's upset at NASA (if that's even true)...it's not like they cancel the launch on account of an unseen bat...like PETA being upset for someone running over insects or rodents (like racoons) on accident...can't always be stopped.

The video though, had me lauging...well done :p

space baaaaat! noooooooo!

wow, how do they even see that..

Space Bat and Ceiling Cat sitting in a tree
F-U-C-K-I-N-G!

That video was beautiful! r.i.p. space bat!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I LOVE BATS!!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!! I HATE NASA AND THERE "Discovery" SPACE SHUTTLE!!! I HOPE THEY SUFFOCATE ON MOON DUST!!!

Ground Control to Die Fledermaus

Just here to add another R.I.P. for space bat. So:

R.I.P. Space Bat...I hope you got to see the stars.

Finally NASA does something useful. That's one less vampire I have to hunt down myself.

Says the video is no longer available for me...

This makes me wonder if the bat thought that his robin buddy was trapped inside the shuttle with ice by a certain California Governor and he was just trying to get him out...

hee-hee! I wish I could be there when he tries to explain this to Mrs. Space Bat!

Couldn't they stop the launch and save a lill bat's life!??

@27
Surely this is an example of it's better to burn UP than fade away?

The world has lost a true hero. Only in death could Space Bat's greatness be discovered. He has given me a new way of thinking...

You can fly to the stars.. as long as you're stuck to a spaceshuttle.

Space bat is officially awesome. The more i think about the name "space bat" the funnier it gets. I'm going to name my first born Space Bat.

this is cute

Hell yeah! Space Bat rocks your socks off!
(Where can I get the t-shirt?)

-Sniffles, bottom lip quivering as he stares up at the sky, his fist clenched- We'll miss you space bat...we'll miss you...

GODSPEED, SPACE BAT! GODSPEED!!!

Space Bat died in a much cooler way than many of us will. I'd rather burn up in a space shuttle launch than die of starvation any day.

nice article...

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