Frog Rocket Launch: Accidental Amphibious Astronaut Takes Off In NASA Rocket Launch Photo
A frog can be spotted leaping into the air during the launch of NASA's LADEE spacecraft in an interesting photo released today.
NASA uploaded an image of their rocket taking off from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia onto its Instagram page. The launch occurred on Sept. 6 of this year, from the Wallops/Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. On the left side of the image, in a billow of smoke, a tiny frog is visible with its legs and arms spread like a star.
According to the photo's caption, the picture was filmed in a single frame by a remote camera that NASA uses to photograph its launches.
A NASA representative said that the frog was definitely real and that the image was not altered.
The condition of the frog remains unknown.
Universe Today suspects that the frog found its way into a pool that lay beneath the launch pad. The pool is an accumulation of water released from the high-volume water deluge system that is activated when a spacecraft launches. The deluge system is necessary in order to muffle sounds and minimize damage to the launch pad. The area was damp and cool, perfect conditions for a frog to hang out.
The image led some to question the negative impact NASA may have on our environment. According to NASA, however, most of the Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge, where the launch facility is located, is leased to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NASA does this "for research and management of declining wildlife in special need of protection."
"But how is it possible for wildlife to peacefully coexist with space operations and what effects do rocket launches have on wildlife?" NASA said. "NASA's launch facilities, roads, and facilities take up a small percentage of the area. The rest of the area remains undeveloped and provides excellent habitat for wildlife. During launches, short term disturbance occurs in the immediate vicinity of the launch pads, but the disturbance is short-lived allowing space launches and a wildlife habitat to coexist."
The Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge is 3,000 acres large and consists mostly of salt marsh and woodlands.
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