In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where the International Space Station (ISS) dances with the stars, an unexpected celestial companion has joined the cosmic ballet. Move over, ISS, there’s a new star in the sky, and it’s shining as brightly as a lost spatula (but more on that later). The newest companion to the stars — a tool bag, set adrift in the void during a routine spacewalk.
According to the official NASA blog, the tool bag, containing tools deemed unnecessary for the maintenance at hand, decided it was time to explore the cosmic wonders on its own. Astronaut Dr. Meganne Christian, sharing the escapade on X (formerly Twitter), assured the world that the ‘Orbital Police’ are on the case, confirming that the lost Extravehicular Activity (EVA) gear is being meticulously tracked.
The runaway tool box. NASA
Now, this tool bag is not just wandering aimlessly; it has become a celestial celebrity, orbiting the Earth approximately one minute ahead of the ISS. Author Dave Dickinson, who wrote “The Backyard Astronomer’s Field Guide,” confirms that the runaway bag has earned its place in the catalog as ID 1998-067WC/58229, shining as a +6th magnitude ‘star.’ “But who says space exploration can’t have a touch of humor?” joked Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, as he shared an image of the shiny object.
The object looks like a sharp dot of light in the center, as the telescope tracked it, so stars left long trails on the background.”
Despite its newfound stardom, NASA assures us that the risk of a rendezvous with the ISS is low, leaving the onboard crew and the space station in a state of space zen — no immediate action required. According to NBC News, eager observers armed with binoculars or telescopes can catch a glimpse of the tool bag, a dim light preceding the space station like an overeager cosmic escort. The night sky becomes a theater, with the tool bag playing the lead role in this unexpected celestial drama.
But fear not, Earth dwellers, for this cosmic escapade won’t last forever. Like a shooting star with a prolonged residency, the tool bag will eventually bid adieu to its celestial audience. NASA predicts a few months of visibility before it gracefully succumbs to the atmospheric embrace, ensuring a safe burn-up high above the Earth’s surface. As the bag continues its orbital waltz, it joins the ranks of other artificial stars that have graced our night skies.
The ISS crew lock bag imaged on November 15. Photo by Gianluca Masi/The Virtual Telescope Project
The wandering tool bag is not the first time misplaced items have embarked on extraterrestrial journeys. Remember the humble spatula lost by NASA astronaut Piers Sellers during the space shuttle Discovery’s flight in 2006?
That was my favorite spatula. Don’t tell the other spatulas,” Sellers said.
As our cosmic ballet unfolds, we’re reminded that space is not just a void but a canvas for unexpected adventures. “In the grand tapestry of the universe, every lost tool bag has its own unique story to tell,” mused Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who also tracks space launches, landings, and re-entries.
So, grab your binoculars, locate the ISS with NASA’s app, and keep an eye out for the shining star that is an astronaut’s tool bag floating through the cosmos. Watch below for a look at the runaway ‘star’!
