Astronaut Lets Tool Bag Drift: In Space Everybody Can See Your Mistakes

"Backyard Skywatchers Find Tool Bag Lost in Space"
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?!