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