Watching this youtu.be/_FFNz2q7F88 I can't help but wonder if it would be worth it to put the space station inside a large mesh bag to catch things that are dropped. Wouldn't be that massive and it's not like it would hurt aerodynamics. Might even help shield against impacts.

@CodysLab Wouldn't that get in the way of docking ports?

@CodysLab The solar panels and cupola would have to be outside of the mesh bag, as would docking ports and many instruments. Obviously any work on them would need to happen outside of the bag too. A mesh bag would also be a fouling risk for many instruments.

@CodysLab Use ferromagnetic instruments carry what is effectively a harpoon launcher but with a large magnet on the end with a 100m cable, would probably be "more" reasonable

@CodysLab A drone with a can of compressed air could do the job, think WALL-E with the fire extinguisher. Assuming the lost tool at most weighs perhaps 2 kg and is lost at only a few m/s relative to the iss a drone could intercept and return it , possibly could be used for incoming debris

@CodysLab Magnets? Couldn't we just use magnets? That or we are at the point an automated drone could near enough get it all (again using magnets/ion thrusters so not as high a risk as thrusters).

@CodysLab Seems like it could make a good radiation shield too

@CodysLab Obstructing the solar panels would not make it worth it I think along with the radiators. Esspecially if it should also shield against impacts instead of creating more shrapnel. Why not make every tool have tiny RCS thrusters so they can steer back to the station 😂

@CodysLab What about maintaining the bag, do we need a bag for the bag 🤔

@CodysLab I have wondered about this as well . But it’s a sailing boat. Everything important is on a lanyard, tethered in some way; nothing goes overboard

@CodysLab Mock it up in @KerbalSpaceP ?

@CodysLab Could as well double as a Whipple shield with huge spacing for larger objects