Animal rights activists around the globe will surely be up in arms over news that NASA has cruelly and unusually murdered a free-tailed bat which was attempting to get a free ride on the Space Shuttle.

A bat that apparently had trouble flying instead tried to hitch a ride on the space shuttle Discovery, NASA officials said.

The rodent was last seen clinging on the foam of the external tank of the space shuttle moments before the Discovery launched, officials said.

NASA officials had hoped the bat would fly away on its own, but admitted the bat probably died quickly during Discovery’s climb into orbit.

The good news, of course, is that the Shuttle safely made it up into space and docked with the International Space Station. Let’s keep the astronauts in our thoughts this week for a safe and successful mission and return. As for the bat? Well, sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug. If it’s any consolation to the bat’s family, it gave its life for a good cause.