I think it’s safe to assume that after NASA successfully landed two rovers on Mars in January of 2004, the momentous event was quickly eclipsed by the following letter of congratulations, sent to the JPL days later by a certain Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his accident-prone assistant, Beaker.

Note: Although the Spirit rover’s initial problems were overcome, it’s unknown whether Beaker’s “Spring Fling” was ever called into action.

Transcript follows.

(Source: Scott Hanson at Muppet Wiki; Image of Beaker & Bunsen via.)

Transcript

THE Jim Henson COMPANY TO: MARS ROVER MISSION TEAM

FR: Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker, MUPPET LABS RE: CONGRATULATIONS! Dear colleagues, It is with mixed emotions that Muppet Labs offers you a hearty “congratulations” on the recent success of your Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. While we realize that your remarkable accomplishment is a really nifty thing for the entire scientific community, we at Muppet Labs Mars Exploration Team (MULMET) wanted to get there first! We were so close: a mere three weeks–give or take a 20 year margin of error–from launching our own Mars explorers. Nonetheless, in the spirit of scientific camaraderie and with a promise that we’ll-beat-you-next-time, Muppet Labs sends you and your team an enthusiastic “Well done, bucko!” Scientifically yours, (Signed, ‘DR. BUNSEN HONEYDEW PHD ESQ.’) DR. BUNSEN HONEYDEW PS: If you continue to have difficulties with the Spirit Rover, my assistant Beaker is happy to offer free roadside assistance on Mars, utilizing our new, thoroughly untested Interplanetary Coil-Powered Catapult…or as we at MULMET like to call it “The Spring Fling”. PPS: Meep-meep-meep-meep-MEEP-MEEP-MEEP-MEEP!!!!!! NOT! (Signed, ‘BEAKER’)