Tools Lost in Space by Shuttle Astronaut Turn Up in Old “Star Trek” Episode

CAPE CANAVERAL - The tools that accidentally floated away from a space-walking shuttle astronaut into the dark abyss of space yesterday were identified by fans of the original “Star Trek” series as the same tools used by Lt. Commander Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in episode 28, “The City on the Edge of Forever,” originally broadcast in 1967.

When “Trekkies,” fans of the cult television series, alerted NASA that the tools lost by astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper were the same ones used in the “Star Trek” episode, NASA scientists matched the serial numbers and other identifying characteristics and concluded they were correct — those are the same tools.

NASA scientist Dr. Noah Swayne said he was not surprised by the discovery. “After all, ‘Star Trek’ is set in the 23rd Century, so those tools had 200 plus years to find their way onto the Starship Enterprise.” This is not the first time that an object lost in space in present day has turned up in an old television show set in the future, Dr. Swayne explained. “The robot’s head in ‘Lost in Space’ was actually a light fixture from the men’s room of the Apollo XV command module.”

Nov 20

  • About Carbolic

    “One of America’s great web sites.” Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    “The city’s equivalent of The Onion.” Ian Urbina, The New York Times

    “This stuff is better than The Onion.” Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    “They’re some of the world’s funniest men, and they deserve our attention.” Rick Sebak, PBS/WQED Multimedia

    Carbolic on Air

    The Carbolic Smoke Ball Report airs every Friday — mornings with Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann, afternoons with Sean McDowell — on Pittsburgh’s top-rated radio station, 102.5 WDVE. Listen to the broadcasts here, and sample the archives here.


    Carbolic in Print

    The Carbolic Smoke Ball Page publishes every Monday in the Trib p.m., the afternoon edition of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Read this week's copy here, and browse our archives here.


    Contact Carbolic

    thejudge@carbolicsmoke.com

    Carbolic Smoke Ball Staff

    Tim Murray, Founder/Editor-in-Chief
    Bob Haas, Editor
    Chad Hermann, Editorial Director
    • • •
    Sean Cannon, Ace Reporter
    Neal Rosenblat, Writer/Designer
    Todd Shaffer, Staff Writer
    • • •
    Timothy Stefko, Illustrator
    The Voice, Radio Correspondent
    The Mayor, Radio Personality
    • • •
    The Hon. Judge Rufus Peckham, Founder Emeritus

    Carbolic Wear


    Carbolic WDVE Podcast