When the astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her toolbag during a spacewalk a few days ago, I immediately wondered how long it would stay in orbit and whether I would be able to see it or not. I used to frequently track the Shuttle and International Space Station when I lived out West (great viewing). It is still fun to spot either the ISS or Shuttle passing overhead.
It looks like there will be a good opportunity to see the toolbag in the next day, or so. There are several sites that predict opportunities to spot it. It sounds like it will continue to orbit until maybe June of 2009, at which time they think it will finally re-enter the atmosphere.
We might see it above Omaha around 6 PM on the 29th, just ahead of the ISS.
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