NASA Lost A Tool Bag In Space: How You Can See It With Just A Pair Of Binoculars

Did you get your binoculars for birdwatching or got them as a gift and forgot them in a drawer somewhere? Get them out to see something really cool – NASA’s lost toolbag.

The space agency lost a tool bag a while ago during a space walk and that bag can be seen orbiting around Earth.

NASA’s lost toolbag is now in low orbit but there’s no danger of it hitting the International Space Station, as the agency wrote in an update.

“The astronauts had planned to remove and stow a communications electronics box called the Radio Frequency Group, but there was not enough time during the spacewalk to complete the work. The duo lifted some multilayer insulation to make a better assessment of how to approach the job before replacing the insulation and deferring the task to a future spacewalk.

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During the activity, one tool bag was inadvertently lost. Flight controllers spotted the tool bag using external station cameras. The tools were not needed for the remainder of the spacewalk. Mission Control analyzed the bag’s trajectory and determined that risk of recontacting the station is low and that the onboard crew and space station are safe with no action required.”

NBC News says that the tool bag is bright enough to be spotted with binoculars, and will likely remain visible for a few months.

“Skywatchers who want to try to spot the tool bag in orbit should head out on a clear night and first determine when the International Space Station is passing overhead,” explained the outlet. You can use this tool to track the ISS.

Article photo courtesy of NASA TV, depicting NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli (top) and Loral O’Hara (bottom) during their first spacewalk for maintenance on the outside of the space station.

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