Astronaut Toolkit Now Orbits Earth After Accidental Drop

NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara accidentally let a toolkit slip into space. 

The white satchel-like bag, visible with binoculars, is currently orbiting Earth independently, NASA said.

The agency said the toolkit was not required anymore as they could complete their spacewalk without it.

Toolkit Orbiting Around Earth

The toolkit slipped into space when the two astronauts carried out 6-hour-long maintenance work at the International Space Station.

The SciTechDaily reported that the astronauts were continuously working on solar arrays to track the sun.

NASA said the toolkit didn’t pose any threat to the space station with no action required.

Toolkit To Remain in Orbit For Months

The toolkit, orbiting ahead of the International Space Station (ISS), is expected to remain in orbit for a few months before meeting its fiery demise in Earth’s atmosphere around March 2024.

The incident brings memories of a similar incident in 2008 when a toolkit drifted off during a spacewalk. 

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