Lost Tool Bag Wandering in Orbit: NASA Astronauts Let Object ‘Escape’ During Spacewalk

1 of 1 oto captured by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa shows lost tool bag wandering in orbit — Photo: Earth Science And Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center oto captured by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa shows lost tool bag wandering in orbit — Photo: Earth Science And Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

A tool bag is wandering in orbit. NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara let the object “escape” during a spacewalk earlier this month. The mission organizers analyzed the item’s trajectory to determine the risks of possible contact with the International Space Station (ISS).

The biggest concern is that the suitcase will collide with other vehicles in orbit — the ISS, satellites and rockets, for example. According to the space agency, however, the crew on board and the space station are safe, with no need for action to recover the object.

But, if it is not rescued, will the suitcase float forever? The answer is no. The object will remain in orbit for the next few months until it disintegrates upon contact with the planet’s atmosphere. Most space debris falls into the sea. However, with the increase in space tourism companies around the world, the amount of space debris fragments reaching the ground is likely to increase.

In addition to the tool kit, thousands of other materials travel around the Earth, such as pieces of paint and parts discarded from rocket launches. Last September, the European Space Agency estimated that 35,290 objects (larger than ten centimeters) were cataloged by various space surveillance networks. The total mass of this “space junk” is estimated at more than 11 thousand tons.

External cameras on the ISS captured the moment the suitcase escaped the professionals’ control. According to the space agency, the objects contained in it were not necessary for the rest of the day’s tasks.

The mission took place on November 1st. At the time, Moghbeli and O’Hara were assigned to work on the station’s solar panels. According to the space agency, the duo completed maintenance work outside the International Space Station (ISS) in six hours and 42 minutes. During the service, they did not have time to remove and store an electronic communications box.

According to the CNN network, this task was left for an upcoming spacewalk. While the two were analyzing how they could perform maintenance this next time, the tool bag “escaped and was lost,” NASA said.

Japanese astronaut caught ‘floating suitcase’

Floating around the Earth, the briefcase was spotted over Mount Fuji last week by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. As it is now considered “space debris”, the object was cataloged with ID 58229/1998-067WC for monitoring by the international community.

The CNN network recalled that this is not the first time that astronauts have “lost” tools in space. In 2008, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper’s purse began to float while she was cleaning and lubricating the gears of a faulty rotary joint. As early as 2006, astronauts Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum lost a 14-inch spatula while testing a space shuttle repair method.

2023-11-14 11:16:03
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