Dropped Shuttle Toolbag Filmed From Earth

cathector writes "An article at spaceweather.com reports that the toolbag dropped during Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper's spacewalk has been recorded on film from earth: 'When Endeavour astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper dropped her toolbag during a spacewalk on Nov. 18th and it floated away, mission controllers probably figured they'd seen the last of it. Think again. Last night, Nov. 22nd, veteran satellite observer Kevin Fetter video-recorded the backpack-sized bag gliding over his backyard observatory in Brockville, Ontario. "It was easily 8th magnitude or brighter as it passed by the 4th magnitude star eta Pisces," he says. Spaceweather's satellite tracker is monitoring the toolbag.'" The actual loss of the bag was filmed, too; reader Kagura links in a comment on the original story to this YouTube clip of the bag's escape.

Comments

Re:A "FETCH" unit

[Perspiring Blood]

It probably would be cheaper just to have the astronauts make sure the bag is continually tethered to something.

Re:That's no moon!

[Macthorpe]

Well, a woman dropped an expensive toolbag. An organisation comprised predominantly of men oversaw the disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia...

If you're keeping score, I think women might be in the lead for some time yet ;)

NASA Bloopers Tape

[syousef]

NASA funniest home videos?

Seriously though, I feel sorry for this woman. One minor slip up and because the media latched onto it this is all she'll ever be remembered for. NASA astronauts risk life and limb and while the humour's good we shouldn't forget the effort and sacrifice they make should not be dismissed lightly.

Re:Check out the sexism on the youtube video

[Manchot]

Your first mistake was reading the comments on a Youtube video.

Re:That's no moon!

[FauxPasIII]

Don't forget, this is how it works.

http://www.xkcd.com/385/