2023-11-08 18:27:34
NASA
Astronauts lose their tools in space
During a space station maintenance outing, Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara dropped a kit, which became a new satellite.
PublishedNovember 8, 2023, 7:27 p.m.
Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara during their spacewalk.
NASA
On November 1, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara left the International Space Station to replace one of the 12 sets of sliding bearings that allow solar panels to follow the Sun and produce electricity for power the station.
During this operation, they inadvertently dropped a tool bag, communicated the NASA. “Flight controllers spotted the tool kit using the station’s external cameras. The tools were not needed for the remainder of the spacewalk. Mission Control analyzed the bag’s trajectory and determined that the risk of re-impacting the station is low and that the crew on board and the space station are safe and no action is required.
The kit thus became a new Earth satellite, orbiting just in front of the space station. According to EarthSky, the kit is surprisingly bright for an object of this size, flickering just below the limit of visibility to the naked eye at a magnitude of around +6. All you need are binoculars or, better still, a telescope to see it.
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