A toolbag that slipped away from NASA astronauts during a spacewalk is now orbiting Earth, captivating sky observers. The incident occurred during a rare all-female spacewalk conducted by astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara on November 1. The astronauts were performing repairs on components of the International Space Station (ISS) when the toolbag accidentally drifted away. Flight controllers were able to spot the toolbag using external station cameras and determined that the risk of it recontacting the station was low. NASA confirmed that the crew and space station were safe with no further action required.
The toolbag, resembling a white satchel, is surprisingly bright and can be observed using binoculars. It has a visual magnitude of around 6, slightly less bright than Uranus. Observers can track the toolbag by locating the ISS, which is the third-brightest object in the night sky, using NASA’s Spot the Station tool. The toolbag orbits Earth a few minutes ahead of the ISS.
Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa recently spotted the toolbag floating over Mount Fuji, confirming its tracking. It is expected to remain in orbit for several months before descending rapidly and burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. Preliminary estimates suggest that the toolbag will reenter the atmosphere around March 2024.
This incident is not the first time an object has been lost in space. In 2008, a similar incident occurred when Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost an object during a repair attempt on the ISS. In 2006, astronaut Piers Sellers also lost a tool, a spatula, while testing a heat shield repair technique.
The toolbag’s journey through space has garnered attention and sparked interest among sky observers. It serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks involved in space exploration and the importance of careful handling and secure storage of equipment during missions.
