FACT CHECK: Was A Frog Photographed During a Recent SpaceX Launch?
A photo shared on X appears to show a frog leaping off of a SpaceX rocket during a recent launch.
Anyone else see this during the launch? pic.twitter.com/WSSrYwnOX6
— Chris (@knowclarified) October 13, 2024
Verdict: Misleading
This image predates any recent SpaceX launch. The photo was taken in 2013.
Fact Check:
The state of California has rejected a bid by SpaceX to increase the number of launches on the central coast of the state, citing potential environmental impacts, according to The New York Times. A recent launch by the company saw the first successful arms catch of a rocket booster at the launch pad following a successful launch, The Associated Press reported.
A post going viral shows a frog “photobombing” a recent launch of one of SpaceX’s rockets. In the midst of fiery smoke and clouds, the frog can be seen leaping in the air, presumably being thrown alongside debris from the launch.
Some users are sharing the image along with text implying that this happened during a recent launch, most of which were performed by SpaceX. Anyone else see this during the launch,” one post’s caption reads. (RELATED: No, Elon Musk Did Not Ban Taylor Swift’s X Account)
This is misleading, however. According to NASA, this viral image was taken at one of their launches all the way back in 2013.
Using a remote camera triggered by sound, photographer Chris Perry snapped the photo during the September launch of NASA’s LADEE spacecraft in Virginia. The official X account of NASA confirms this, as a 2023 post celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the now infamous photograph.
Some days you’re the rocket. Some days you’re the frog. #WednesdayThoughts
Ten years ago today, our LADEE launch to the Moon from @NASA_Wallops leapt into internet history when a remote camera captured this image of liftoff, and an airborne frog. https://t.co/4X0TfqKWEQ pic.twitter.com/q5i5VY8cFr
— NASA (@NASA) September 6, 2023
A community note has been placed on the original X post, letting other users know about the real context of the photo. This story was first fact-checked by Snopes.
