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ISS News

Tool Time on Orbit

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
November 24, 2008

Joe Six Pack and NASA

“We all know by now that STS-126 astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper let go of a tool bag the other day during an EVA in space. A piece of hardware misbehaved, Heide had to deal with that and 19 other things – while item 20 was not getting her full attention and the bag drifted off. Something like this happens to people everyday at work or at home. In Heide’s case millions of people were watching on TV and her tools were a bit pricey. Of course, the media had a blast with this since everyone knows that astronauts are perfect and everything that NASA uses costs a zillion dollars an ounce. …

… imagine if NASA really put some thought into how the STS-125 mission was portrayed to the public – in advance and in real time. This could become as much a blue collar, Joe Six pack hit as it will be a lovefest for all of us space geeks. Wouldn’t it be cool, from the perspective of Joe and his pals, to know that they use some of the same tools that astronauts use – and that they can connect with many of the chores being performed in space. You do not need a PhD to do a lot of this EVA stuff.”

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.