ISS Toolbag Falls to Earth

[jjjnettie]

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/08/02/orbiting-toolbag-will-enter-atmosphere-aug-3/
The most famous toolbag in the world (and space) will soon be no more. The ISS Toolbag will enter Earth's atmosphere and completely burn up. Current estimates say the toolbag should become a fireball on August 3 around 1316 Universal Time. It should be visible over the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico (12.7° N, 257.1° E). Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper dropped the backpack-sized kit on Nov. 18, 2008, while she was working outside the International Space Station. Since then the toolbag has circled Earth over 4,000 times, and has even been visible from the ground. Keep track of the toolbag at Heaven's Above or on SpaceWeather.com's Satellite Tracker.

[spacezebra]

Hi JJJ

I was waiting for this to be posted - I wonder if she will be watching the skies to see it come back!

Cheers Petra d.

[toryglen-boy]

LOL

now that made me laugh, cowboys everywhere !!!

whats next? Astronauts with labourers crack?

:lol:

[MrB]

dropped?? :lol:

[renormalised]

Now, that would be a worry for astronaut OH&S:P:D:D

[renormalised]

Actually, this one won't burn up...it's going to come down along a curved trajectory and land, intact, right outside of Ms Stefanyshyn-Piper's house...specifically, right outside her garage door:P:P:D:D:eyepop::D:D

[Octane]

Oh, my.

I think I actually may have seen it on the way back from dinner tonight! Just a few minutes ago, which would marry up with the 1316 UTC.

It was a very bright green/blue flash which increased in intensity over the 1.5 second (or so) period it was illuminated.

From my heading, it was directly in front of me, and the road I was driving home on was facing between west and south-west.

Could that have been it?!

Regards,
Humayun

[seanliddelow]

It is now above India, possibly in its final orbit. I think you did see the iss toolbag as it was near Canberra and NSW

[Ric]

Beware of low flying spanners. LOL

[AdrianF]

No now I have a mental image aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! !!!
Quick Adrian think of something else..............anything......... ..

Adrian

[Lester]

How big is their sledge hammer? All good tool kits have to have a good hammer, and that could make it to the ground.

[Liz]

Wow, what a journey for the toolbag, I thought it had come to Earth ages ago. Hmmm ... I could do with some new tools, but not falling in my area :sadeyes:

[jjjnettie]

Plenty of tools near where I live. :whistle:

[mozzie]

duncan whats wrong with labours crack us brickies may take offence to that 20 years ago when we were fitter and younger there was no probs but know the wifes good cooking has got the better of us:lol::lol::doh::doh::whistle::whi stle:
mozzie

[h0ughy]

ahh yes there are, some tools are quite specialised as well;)

[rider]

I for one will be sad to see it go, it was iconic.

At each pass, in one sweet glint of light it represented NASA's ongoing inability to apply HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) processes, -a failure avoidance planning system which they invented and is used throughout the world.

Problem: may drop tools
Hazard: we will look like twitts
Control: purchase a meter of rope and teach HeideM' to tie bowlines.

Private Sector Cost Structure: $1.50
NASA Cost Structure: $15,000,000.50

Approved.

[AstralTraveller]

The site has a supposed list of the tool-bag's contents (eg laser-assisted monkey wrench, molcular hyperwave pincer).

Does anyone know what is really in the case? If I see a tool-bag fall from the sky I want to be sure it is the right one before I start phoning the media. :D

[koputai]

It'll be easy to recognise, all the tools will be titanium or inconel.

Cheers,
Jason.

[rider]

I think Bunnings currently has a special deal going on for laser-assisted monkey wrenchs, and molcular hyperwave pincers.

[pgc hunter]

Woman astronaut...say it all....rofl

J/K!

[AstralTraveller]

You won't be laughing when JJJnettie, Jen, BerrieK etc get through with you. You'll be rolling on the floor but not laughing. We have some tough, strong women around here. :poke:

[jjjnettie]

ahem......
:poke: makes nettie :tasdevil: :argue: :fight: and ends up with sab being :scared2: :sad: and nettie being :cool: :nerd:

[WarpSpider74]

Now, now, that's no way to talk about them nice astronaut folk...




I, for one, would be happy to offer my OHS consultancy services, at standard NASA consultancy rates ;)

[rider]

I bet the aformentioned Heidi - oops -Marrie* is going to be SOooooo pleased that the media will be bringing this up again.

*(HeidiM', former astronaut, currently appearing at a Macca's near you)

[Screwdriverone]

HA HA,

What I am really worried about though is what happened to the poor dog that fell off the back of the ute with the tools? :scared:
Probably floating through Canis Major constellation at the moment? << see what I did there!

:)

Cheers

Chris

[Kevnool]

On a serious note at least thats one piece of space junk that wont be in low earth orbit any more...
Cheers Kev.

[jjjnettie]

Quite true Kev.
Now they only have to dodge those Russian Modules full of Astronauts dirty undies and Astro Poo.:lol: