Astronauts Lose Bolt and Washer During Spacewalk

Spacewalking astronauts worry that when they have finished up with the successful job connecting an addition to the international space station, a bolt, spring and washer floated away free.

Astronaut Joe Tanner was working with the bolt when it sprang loose, floated over the head of Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and skittered across the 17 1/2-ton box they were hooking up.
While the washer went out into space safely, Tanner worried the bolt and spring could get into the truss's wiring and tubing and causing problems. "Not a good thing," Tanner said. "Let's hope it doesn't end up somewhere in the mechanism.
"I don't see it anywhere."