- Who
- 2008-059B / STS-126 Tool Bag
- What
- 18 kilogram(s)
- Where
- Not Applicable ()
- When
The largest item dropped by a spacewalking astronaut is an 18-kg (39 lb) tool bag which came loose from the equipment of astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (USA) during a spacewalk on 18 November 2008. The tool bag was tracked in orbit as object 2008-059B. Its orbit decayed naturally without it posing any threat to the station, and it burned up on re-entry on 3 August 2009.
During spacewalks, astronauts have to keep track of numerous tools, covers and other objects, each one of which can easily drift out of their reach if not tethered to something. They're also trying to perform complex manual tasks while wearing enormous, stiff gloves that allow for no tactile feedback. Other items that have been mislaid during spacewalks include a spatula, a camera and a set of pliers.
Stefanyshyn-Piper lost the tool bag when trying to clean up the mess created by a ruptured grease gun. It is not known how it came untethered. Speaking after the mission, Stefanyshyn-Piper remarked "That definitely was not the high point of the EVA [...] It was very disheartening to watch it float away". She went on complete two further spacewalks without incident, completing some important upgrade work on the International Space Station before returning to Earth on 30 Nov 2008.
