Space.com (November 25, 2008)
"Amateur astronomers have been monitoring a shiny tool bag that has been orbiting Earth ever since it was dropped last week by an astronaut during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
"Veteran spacewalker and Endeavor astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her grip on the backpack-sized bag on Nov. 18 while cleaning up a mess from a leaking grease gun she was carrying to help mop up metal grit from inside a massive gear that turns the space station's starboard solar wings.
"The tool bag cost $100,000 and its loss...."
This is the latest installment of what I'll call "The Slick Grease Gun of STS-126."
It started Thursday, when a grease gun leaked, getting everything in a 30-pound tool bag well-lubricated. The lead spacewalker tried to clean up the mess, and set the tool bag adrift in orbit.
"Astronaut loses tool bag during spacewalk"
CNN (November 19, 2008)
"(CNN) -- Things didn't go quite according to plan for astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper during her spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday.
"First, a grease gun inside her tool bag leaked, coating everything inside with a film of lubricant...."
Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper is from Minnesota, my state. I've never worn a space suit, but the clothing I wear during winter gives me some idea of what it's like. When you're wearing heavy gloves, even tools that are designed for Minnesota winters - or low Earth orbit - can be hard to handle.
Add a layer of lubricant, and life gets more interesting. And she was working in free fall.
(from NASA TV, via Space.com, used without permission)
In space, everybody can see your mistakes.
A $100,000 tool bag drifts away.
More, in the news:
- "Tool Bag Is Lost During Spacewalk "
The New York Times (November 19, 2008) - "MN astronaut who lost tool bag admits making mistake "
KARE-11 (November 19, 2008)
The headline of this Associated Press article is, I think, a bit daft.
What, someone thought that Stefanyshyn-Piper set that tool bag adrift on purpose?!
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