Astronauts Dropped a Tool Bag During an ISS Spacewalk.
On November 1, 2023, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara were conducting a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) when they accidentally dropped a tool bag. The bag, which contained a variety of tools, floated away from the ISS and is now orbiting Earth.
The astronauts were performing maintenance on the ISS's solar panels when the incident occurred. According to NASA, the bag was not tethered to the ISS, and it is unclear how it got loose.
Mission Control was able to track the bag's trajectory and determined that it poses no threat to the ISS or any other spacecraft. The bag is expected to eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
This is not the first time that astronauts have lost something in space. In 2008, astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a tool bag while cleaning up a mess from a leaking grease gun. The bag, which was valued at $100,000, circled the planet for months before burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
The loss of the tool bag is a minor setback for the ISS mission. However, it is a reminder of the dangers of spacewalking. Astronauts must always be careful to secure their tools and equipment, as even a small object can pose a hazard in space.
Here are some additional details about the incident:
- The tool bag was approximately 2 feet by 2 feet by 1 foot in size.
- It contained a variety of tools, including screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers.
- The bag is expected to orbit Earth for several months before burning up in the atmosphere.