Special Tools

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 7

Special Tools

Tomorrows space-me-chanics will not ’ have a monkey wrench in their tool kit. If an astronaut in a space suit hopped out of his orbiting capsule to make a repair or adjustment under weightless conditions he would find, if he tried to use a monkey wrench, that he would turn himself rather than the wrench. With no weight and no support apart from the side of the capsule he would be almost useless. This problem is under stud, by the Martin Company in collaboration with the Black and Decker Manufacturing Company. Martin Space Systems engineers have designed a “zeroreaction" wrench which is squeezed like a pair of pliers rather than turned.

Unintentional turning by either tool or astronautmechanic is prevented by two pins on the wrench which plug into the wall of the spate vehicle. Space screwdrivers will be designed in a similar fashion.

Hammers pose another problem Conventional hammers are less effective in

a weightless environment and maj’ be replaced by a springloaded striker rather similar to a rivet-gun.

Only self-contained powertools would be taken into space for the obvious reason that the spacecraft's own power supply may be unavilable in an emergency. These considerations plus the knowledge of space conditions being brought back by the present astronauts are determining the contents of the space-mechanic's toolkit. At 3ny rate. Martin enengineers feel sure that they are coming to grips with the problem.