Question

An astronaut tightens a bolt on a satellite in orbit. He rotates in a direction opposite to that of the bolt, and the satellite rotates in the same direction as the bolt. Explain why. If a handhold is available on the satellite, can this counter-rotation be prevented

Answer 1

Answer: yes it can be prevented

Explanation:

The sensation of weightlessness that astronauts experience seems to make their tasks almost effortless. However, as Newton's third law of motion suggests, working in space can be physically demanding. 

As he tightens the bolt, he is rotating in the direction opposite to the bolt

It is possible if the handhold is designed in three dimensional motion where the astronaut motion will be the uplimb motion with the mass centre of hand move along circular helix trajectory

Angular momentum is conserved astronaut motion is conserved when net external torque is Zero.