Astronaut loses toolbag in Grease-gun incident

While trying to grease-up the Space Station's creaky solar-panel-rotating gears, some grease accidentally squirts into the toolbag, and astronaut Heide Piper loses her bag while trying to clean it up. In case you are wondering what happens if an Astronaut floats away, note the large white backpack on the back of their spacesuits; this is known as the "SAFER" unit and is a jet-powered backpack to allow the astronaut to float back to the station during U.S. spacewalks. To the best of my knowledge, it has never been needed. Russian spacewalks, also conducted at the International Space Station, do not have similar technology, so if any astronaut (including an American) loses their tether and their grip during a Russian spacewalk, their career is probably over.

SEE UPDATED VERSION AT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u7VSuo0FXQ for more original footage and a closer look at the SAFER.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• accident
• space
• walk
• NASA
• spacewalk
• floating
• toolbag
• greasegun
• EVA
• Heidemarie
• Stefanyshyn-Piper
• Space
• Shuttle
• Endeavour

[gdavisloop]

Finally, the lost tools were specifically for this mission (to lubricate the grinding gears, also not her fault), and since the mission was accomplished completely, there is no more need for the $100K tools. It's not like NASA was going to return them to Sears and get their money back. So really, nothing was lost. Please have a good laugh over this and stop these endless stupid sexist comments. And don't miss my UPDATED version of this video with more cool footage! --Gary

[gdavisloop]

People, people, CALM DOWN! This was not a "woman's mistake". The grease gun wasn't supposed to leak, that was NASA's fault. Believe me, you do not want gobs of grease floating around your toolbag and work area, even if you're not a woman. Also, the other spacewalker takes the blame for packing the small bag into the larger bag without a tether. (to be continued...)

[gdavisloop]

ATTN VIEWERS: I made an updated version of this video with more live footage, original sound (hear what Piper says when she loses the bag), and a closer look at the SAFER backpack. Just click "More From gdavisloop" to the right of the video, and you can't miss it! --Gary

[largalout]

Hi-tech toolbag containing greasegun $100,000.

Piece of string 2cents.

[p4c017]

It was supposed to be attached but it wasn't, not her fault.

Shit happens anyways, and they have a spare so no problem.

She's a top astronaut just google her...

[Darkhenne]

joe?

[CpsLock3]

@p4c017 Opps she lost the spare TEAMS FALT!!!!!

[CpsLock3]

Well you wanted women in space. I guess it got to the point that we can only take their bitching on a cam corder in space.

[ViperRob42]

OH NOS! There's a small bag lost in space I assume it will just float around and eventually fall into the orbit of Jupiter er sumfin? Anyone know what the fate of this lost bag is? lol

[MrPypap]

@Bloodgod40 and risk trillions of dollars nu uh

[apekillssnake]

Talk about trying to psychologically-condition the general publics view about this female astronauts mistake. So she assumed that it was attached! A bloke would not have made all these excuses or had them made for him. She panicked as a FEMALE and this is all being covered up along with the injustices of the female agender movement by governments and for space. This aims to demasculinate the space conquest, humanities future and our survival here on earth. Mankind needs to assess Misandry first

[Ohfoshoh]

@gdavisloop More delusional bullshit excuses. I don't know why people don't have the common sense to recognize things as they obviously are.

[Ohfoshoh]

@gdavisloop And how the fuck do you know? Were you on this mission? Were you the one that bought the tools?

[foxyroxstar]

nevertheless "is she the bagwoman now!" aka fox.rxsczr here...now 15 trillion mind blowing drug monies for SPACE! The MILITARY!..and buddy 2 OMARrow we'll pay it all back into the black!...(buthowmuchmore)