Astronaut Loses Tool Bag During Repairs Of International Space Station

November 19, 2008 5:28 a.m. EST

Cape Canaveral, FL (AHN) - A tool bag slipped away from an astronaut repairing the joint of a solar panel of the International Space Station on Tuesday.

The tool bag the size of a small backpack floated away as the spacewalking Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper was wiping away lubricants from her gloves and a camera. The lubricant accidentally leaked from a grease gun.

Stefanyshyn-Piper continued her work outside the space station sharing tools with astronaut Stephen Bowen. They completed the seven-hour partial repair of the joint of the solar panel that provides electricity to the orbiting outpost. The joint was malfunctioning due to lack of lubricant.

The floating tool bag did not pose any risk to the Space Shuttle Endeavor and five other astronauts aboard, according to NASA.