Frog Caught In Rocket Launch Sparks Hilarious Puns Across News Sources [PHOTO]
An unfortunate frog was caught in the rocket launch of the Orbital Sciences' Minotaur 5 rocket, which prompted some hilarious puns across news sources.
The rocket blasted into space last Friday to kick off a journey to the moon, CBS News reports. NASA captured the Minotaur 5's liftoff in a photo, which included smoke, fire... and a frog.
The frog jumped right as the rocket launched and when the photo was shot. NASA posted the photo to their Instagram account.
According to CNN, NASA confirms the photo is real, and taken by a remote camera during Friday's launch of the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).
"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," it says on its website, CNN reports.
"The condition of the frog, however, is uncertain," NASA added.
CNN reports that it is unlikely that rocket launches "end well for amphibians."
The photo was first posted online Wednesday by Universe Today, and has since prompted creative and hilarious puns, in spite of the unfortunate and likely demise of the frog.
The puns, as reported by CNN, include:
"This frog gives new meaning to "flying leap," (or giant leap)," said Universe Today in that original post.
"From lily pad to launch pad." The Independent wrote.
"An unlucky frog took a giant leap for mankind." News.com.au joked.
"Did it croak?" NBC News said.
A source told CNN the creature's last words were probably: "Orrrbit, orrrbit."
Universe Today also explained how the frog got there in the first place: "The launchpad at the Wallops/Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport has a 'pool' for the high-volume water deluge system that activates during launches to protect the pad from damage and for noise suppression, and likely there was a (formerly) damp, cool place that was a nice spot for a frog to hang out."
The Minotaur 5 rocket was carrying NASA's $280 million Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), which aims to study the moon's atmosphere, CBS News reports.