Tool bag from space ends up orbiting around Earth? See where it is

A tool bag, which was dropped accidentally by astronauts during a space walk at the International Space Station (ISS), is now orbiting around us, and is even visible to the naked eye. 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a blog post earlier that its astronauts, Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, were replacing parts of the ISS station when the tool bag was "inadvertently lost". NASA said that the tool bag was even visible to the flight controllers, who spotted it using external station cameras. 

"Mission Control analyzed the bag's trajectory and determined that risk of recontacting the station is low and that the onboard crew and space station are safe with no action required," the blog added. 

NASA said that the bag is circling the planet in low-Earth orbit and is not a threat to the space station. The tool bag has been labeled: 1998-067WC/58229. 

Where is it right now? 

European Space Agency astronaut Meganne Christian shared the video on a social media platform, stating that the bag was last spotted by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Satoshi Furukawa. 

Christian posted the video when the tool bag was seen floating away during the Nov 1 spacewalk. 

Have you seen it recently? 

N2YO, which tracks satellites and space stations in real time, is following the bag. As per its data, the bag was flying just above Japan and over the Pacific Ocean as of Wednesday morning. However, it is moving very fast. 

Several social media users shared images, claiming to have located it. 

Skywatchers are hoping to see the tool bag in orbit. It may be visible on a clear night and can be picked up with binoculars. 

The tool bag will most likely be visible for a few months before its orbit decreases and it falls towards Earth. 

Reports have mentioned that the bag will burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, similar to other small objects in low-Earth orbit, such as discarded rocket pieces and small satellites. 

Massive issue with space junk 

Space junk is any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space. It refers to dead satellites that have failed or been left in orbit at the end of their mission. Space debris is an example of a "tragedy of the commons," in which several interests have access to a common resource, and it may become depleted and unusable to all because no interest can prevent another from overexploiting the resource.