20 March 2009

A Tribute to Spacebat




NASA's report about the injured bat clinging to the Space Shuttle was brief and to the point:
The animal likely perished quickly during Discovery’s climb into orbit.
I prefer the version written by John Hermann for Gizmodo:
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.

5 comments:

  1. Yeah, I prefer the Gizmodo written version as well.

    "Spacebat" spirit is out there, exploring the Universe... Enjoy brave friend...

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  2. "Spacebat" spirit is actually probably exploring our Universe and beyond...Lucky "Spacebat", free at last...

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  3. Ladies and Gentlemen, a toast:

    To spacebat, a courageous mascot of the Shuttle Program, may he (or she) live on in our memories as a kindred spirit of those men and women who dare to defy physics in our search for new frontiers. Be at peace, Spacebat.

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

    so good!

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  5. the Gizmodo version is way better! Way to go, spacebat! Now, we know it is not only bat-'man' who takes off to the skies with big ideas!

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