Astronauts used toothbrush to fix space station - Foxnews

If anyone doubts the need for continued human space flight, this incident should be a good example of why humans are essential.   Without these people, the space station would have been limited in capacity.  pl

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/09/06/how-astronauts-used-toothbrush-to-fix-space-station/

Comments

[The Twisted Genius]

As a son of a tool and die maker and master mechanic at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, I am always enthralled by these feats of mechanical inventiveness and resourcefulness. I'm glad the article reminded us of the accomplishments of the astronauts and ground grew of Apollo 13.

On a lighter note, here's another problem solver and fixer in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEBmh_zE9Yo

[mongo]

Hello, Sir:

Humans are essential because they can do one thing that robots cannot: respond to the unknown with innovation. I'm less sold on the ISS though, because it is to a large degree absent from the public consciousness.

The bean counters that approve the financing for space exploration are going to continue to view it as something of a luxury until the body politic regains some enthusiasm for it.

mongo

[Will]

i use a sonic toothbrush to do all kinds of repair work- like unsticking kuerig coffee makers or cleaning light switches in rental properties.

[The Twisted Genius]

Will,

Now if you were a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, you could use your sonic screwdriver.

[Fred]

If one could only fix a modern car with something other than a toothbrush....

[Brad Hoss]

Just out of curiosity, would they use a toothbrush on (http://www.dentalimplantstempe.com/Procedures_DentalImplants_1619928.aspx) dental implants in space? Or would they use a different type of cleaning method? I know a few people in Mesa who've wanted to go up into space. But they haven't yet.

[Bill Shields]

I'm pretty sure that if my (http://www.chinookdental.com) dentist saw this, he would laugh his head off. Not many people I know here in Calgary would actually believe that a toothbrush would be able to fix a spacestation.

[Elijah Ali]

That is so cool! Who would have thought that a toothbrush would have saved the day! http://abledentalgroup.com/