The frog that photobombed NASA

It was just another step for mankind, but a giant leap for amphibians everywhere, when a frog photobombed NASA's LADEE spacecraft launch. An image of the frog that jumped right in front of NASA's sound-triggered still camera was released by them on their newly created Instagram profile, yesterday.

Within hours the image, of what has now become one of the most popular photobombs in history, went viral all over the internet. NASA confirmed that “frog is real and was captured in a single frame by one of the remote cameras used to photograph the launch.”

They, however, added, “The condition of the frog is uncertain.”

Considering, though, that the launch took place near Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, in proximity to the Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge, NASA cared to point out, “The US Fish and Wildlife Service has an agreement with NASA to use the NASA-owned portion of Wallops Island for research and management of declining wildlife in special need of protection. The agreement with NASA covers approximately 3,000 acres of Wallops Island proper and is primarily salt marsh. But how is it possible for wildlife to peacefully coexist with space operations and what effects do rocket launches have on wildlife?”

This, apparently, is very common. NASA states, “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.”

Also read: NASA releases picture of Earthlings waving at Saturn