Stowaway bat
As Space Shuttle Discovery prepared to launch for the STS-119 mission in March 2009, ground controllers noticed a bat clinging to the external fuel tank. Looking at images, wildlife experts believed the bat had broken a wing and was experiencing a problem with its right shoulder or wrist. Ground controllers hoped it would fly away on its own, but the bat stayed put, remaining visible on the fuel tank as the Shuttle cleared the tower. The ultimate fate of the bat was never determined, but it’s fair to say this story likely did not have a happy ending.
