It wasn’t intentional: that’s why this toolbox is now floating in the air

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A bright light in the sky? It doesn’t necessarily have to be a shooting star in the coming days. It’s more likely to be a lost NASA toolbox.

As the American space agency NASA writes, the two astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli (40) and Loral O’Hara (40) lost a toolbox in early November during external work on the International Space Station. A photo shared by British astronaut Meganne Christian on Twitter shows the suitcase slowly floating away.

Can be seen with binoculars or a telescope

Now the toolbox is sliding into orbit around the Earth. According to NASA, there is no risk of a collision between the astronauts and the ISS. “Mission Control has therefore determined that no action is required at this time,” it continues. The property will be closely monitored in the coming months.

If you observe the sky with binoculars or a telescope in the coming months, you may see not only the International Space Station, but possibly the lost toolbox as well. According to the specialist portal Space.com, this will appear in the sky about three minutes before the ISS. However, the space guest cannot be seen with the naked eye; The suitcase – unlike the ISS itself – is too dark for that.

In a few months the suitcase will disappear

According to astronomer Jonathan McDowell, the object is currently at an altitude of about 415 kilometers. In addition, NASA has even included the tool case in the database for artificial objects in space, he further writes

But because the toolbox continually loses height, spectators have to hurry. Within just a few months, probably in the spring of 2024, the toolbox is expected to enter Earth’s atmosphere – and burn up. (zis)

Source: Blick