Manned Maneuvering Unit - photo

[jdurand]

Also, consider that all the stuff in the 90 minute orbit (where most of the manned stuff takes place) is travelling at roughly 17,000 mph. Those fragments from explosive bolts, those dropped tools, those discarded shrouds, etc. don't magically fall to earth. One of those wouldn't hit you; it would transect you.

While there's a LOT of junk up there, exploding bolt pieces shouldn't be one of them. They're carefully made that the explosion is fully contained and just pushes a ram against the other end of the bolt...breaking the head off at a score line. Both head and main bolt are retained on their ends of the joint.