On September 6, 2013, NASA’s LADEE spacecraft launched into orbit from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. It was not alone.
A frog, likely one hanging out near a “cool, damp place” on the launchpad, also found itself thrust into the air during liftoff. The bizarre moment was captured by a remote camera at the scene. Here’s a wide shot, followed by a closeup:
“The photo team confirms the frog is real and was captured in a single frame by one of the remote cameras used to photograph the launch. The condition of the frog, however, is uncertain.”
According to NASA, there’s no word yet on what happened to the frog afterwards, but you can assume he had a pretty bad day.
Proving once again that it’s not easy being green, especially when you’re on fire. Godspeed, Frogger.
