Spacewalk Continues Despite Lost Tools

A lost tool bag won't stop today's spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

Endeavour's lead spacewalker, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, can use a backup set in another bag that was intended for use by fellow spacewalker Steve Bowen. The two astronauts will share the tools.

The lost bag held a grease gun, cleaning tools and some tethers.

Stefanyshyn-Piper had begun to clean grease from her gloves and camera, after she reported finding grease spread throughout the tool bag. She suspects one of the grease guns was missing a cap, allowing grease to flow out.

The grease, called Braycote, is specially designed for use in microgravity. It is the consistency of toothpaste and fairly dry, so NASA officials say it is easily wiped off and doesn't absorb into spacesuits.

As she was cleaning, she lost her grip on the bag, and it floated toward the rear, right side of the station.

This image shows Stefanyshyn-Piper back at work on the a huge joint called that rotates the station's starboard solar wings. It's called a Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, or SARJ, one of two on the station.

Stefanyshyn-Piper removed covers protecting a section of the joint's gear ring, then removed one of the 12 trundle bearing assemblies that rolls around the ring as the joint turns.

Mission managers are reviewing whether the lost tools will impact plans for the next three spacewalks. Two more were planned to work on the starboard rotary joint, and the fourth and final spacewalk was to focus on lubricating the port rotarty joint on the opposite side of the station's main truss.