Astronauts at the International Space Station were on a spacewalk when a large debris shield got away. The debris shield was meant to be affixed to the station as part of its total armor against impact from space debris.
The astronauts don’t know how the 5-foot, 18-pound shield drifted off. It caused a bit of confusion at the time. All equipment and tools are supposed to be tethered to the ship or to an astronaut.
Mission Control advised the astronauts to use the cover that they removed from a relocated docking port as a substitute. They said the docking port has all the capabilities needed for protection.
