astronaut tools?

[tpolley]

anyone here happen to work for nasa or have a second cousins former room-mate that works for nasa?
i was watching a show on our local public television station on the hubble telescope repair mission and saw they had some pretty wild looking power tools. probably a 6 million dollar motorised screwdriver. what do they use in space? surely they don't use compressed air and i understand that a battery will not work as well in extreme cold.

 

[t100]

i watched one of the hubble repairing jobs live, remebered clearly the guy did all of us have done, forgot to charge the battery.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

There was an article here recently about Gus Grissom's spacesuit.

The family had it and IIRC loaned it to a museum for display where it was confiscated my NASA.

The family said Gus took it out of a trash bin at NASA and brought it home. NASA said he signed it out to "take to his son's school for show and tell" and never brought it back.

Since Gus isn't around to give his side (having given his life in the pursuit of the moon in the Apollo 1 fire)...the government got the suit.

So...if you do come across one of those 6-million dollar screwdrivers, better check the registration. Or...keep it out of sight.

Phil

 

[chrislehr]

Check it:
http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn17038-hubble-space-tools

 

[HandyManny]

I think they have a bunch of specialized and specially made tools they use. Probably have someone the equivelent of Q who designs and makes thier stuff.

I know that NASA uses various Proto hand tools, and Ingersol Rand phneumatic tools, but I believe they are used mainly for stuff done on here on Earth, not in space.

 

[wreckercologist]

Probably have someone the equivelent of Q who designs and makes thier stuff.

 

[Vinko]

I think they used Armstrong tools

 

[MarkIowa]

Here is how the Navy buys a tool kit for the F/A 18:

http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cg...docID=713824458874+27+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

 

[Driveswifecrazy]

Did you know NASA spent over 1 million dollars developing a pen that can write in space, True story!!!

The Russians, just used a pencil!!!! Tax dollars at work!!!

 

[tpolley]

yeah, now you can buy the pen for $19.99 from the "as seen on tv" store. way to pay for research and development eh?

i think they were worried about the pencil leads breaking off, floating around the spacecraft and compromising the mil-spec double redundant insulated wiring and shorting something out.

 

[malibu101]

Amazing! I have one of those pens for/in my truck. I've had it a few years now. It writes on the first stroke no matter how cold it is and residing in the glove box it's seen alot of summer heat and has not leaked! It sure beats a pen that doesn't write or leaks, or, a pencil that needs sharpening.
A million in R&D, I feel good because I bet SnapOn never spent that to R&D a tool.

 

[Vinko]

Did you know NASA spent over 1 million dollars developing a pen that can write in space, True story!!!

The Russians, just used a pencil!!!! Tax dollars at work!!!

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

 

[malibu101]

Thanks Vinko for clearing that up.
While NASA didn't spend the million it's still amazing that anybody spent that amount of money to re-develop a pen.

 

[Northstar9126]

I am starting to hate Snoops. Seems every neat story that I want to believe they go and shoot in the azz.

 

[Driveswifecrazy]

I am starting to hate Snoops. Seems every neat story that I want to believe they go and shoot in the azz.

+1, I suppose now their going too tell me theres no Big Foot & Area 51 is fake also, Dam Snoops!!!!

 

[Bart Simpson]

I watched that show on PBS a couple times ...very interesting.
I believe they made that computerized screw gun.

After they couldn't get the stuck bolt out they suggest getting vise grips.

I do know that Snap On has supplied them tools as well.

 

[HandyManny]

Did you know NASA spent over 1 million dollars developing a pen that can write in space, True story!!!

The Russians, just used a pencil!!!! Tax dollars at work!!!

They did the same thing with flight testing expensive swiss wrist watches. Today they all mostly wear Casio G-Shocks, privately purchased by the crew themselves.

 

[HandyManny]

I would imagine that they get tools from various industrial sources. I have heard that certain Proto tools undergo various testing and certification because they are used by NASA for some applications. Not sure exactly which Proto tools those are. I know they use a lot of Ingersol Rand stuff as does Boeing. Would not surprise me if NASA has purchased various Snap-On and MAC tools.

 

[volvo420coupe]

So they have a microprocessor controlled screw gun/drill. Speed AND torque are controlled by an on board computer.

I am going to be really pissed if this technology doesn't make it to the retail market in the next 5 years.