#Astronaut Bruce McCandless Performs the First Untethered Spacewalk

[michaelgabrill]

[lalulutres]

This iconic photograph is still considered one of the most-terrifying space photographs to date. Astronaut Bruce McCandless II became the first human being to perform spacewalk without a safety tether linked to a spacecraft. He floated completely untethered in space with nothing but his Manned Maneuvering Unit keeping him alive.

[gadawg-404]

First untethered space walk.

On Feb. 7, 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless made history performing a spacewalk during STS-41B with no lifelines tethering him to space shuttle Challenger. Using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), McCandless and astronaut Bob Stewart completed separate untethered spacewalks during the mission, both venturing more than 300 feet/ 91 meters from Challenger.

[catherine-media]

Walking Above the Air: The Captivating Evolution of Spacewalks

Spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), represent some of the most breathtaking moments in human space exploration. While they are visually stunning and technically remarkable, not every spacewalk unfolds without challenges—from astronauts getting stuck in hatches to losing tools or facing near-drowning incidents.

The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission by SpaceX marks a potential milestone in commercial spaceflight: the first spacewalk by a private citizen. Billionaire Jared Isaacman, a major funder of the mission, aims to become the first non-professional astronaut to conduct a private spacewalk outside SpaceX's Dragon capsule. The mission is set to reach an altitude of approximately 870 miles (1,400 km), making it the highest crewed spaceflight since the Apollo missions over 50 years ago. Isaacman’s spacewalk, scheduled at a lower orbit of around 434 miles (700 km), will be accompanied by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis. Both will wear SpaceX's new spacesuits, featuring helmet displays and mounted cameras.

However, the Crew Dragon capsule lacks an airlock, necessitating full depressurization of the capsule before exiting. This, combined with the use of new spacesuits, introduces additional risks for the crew.

Spacewalks have come a long way since the first historic event nearly 60 years ago. Here’s a look back at some of the most notable moments in the history of spacewalks:

The First Spacewalk

On March 18, 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to walk in space, stepping outside the Voskhod 2 spacecraft through an inflatable airlock. Although Leonov spent 12 minutes in space tethered to the spacecraft, his mission faced challenges. His spacesuit became rigid in the vacuum of space, hindering movement and photography. He also struggled to re-enter the spacecraft and had to reduce the suit’s pressure to fit through the hatch, resulting in his spacesuit being soaked with sweat.

The First American Spacewalk

Just over two months later, on June 3, 1965, Ed White became the first American to step outside a spacecraft during the Gemini 4 mission. Using a hand-held oxygen-jet gun, White maneuvered outside the capsule for 23 minutes. The gun’s fuel depletion forced him to move by tugging on a tether. Tragically, White would die in the Apollo 1 fire less than two years later.

The First Space 'Selfie'

During the Gemini XII mission in November 1966, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin not only contributed to the mission’s success but also took what is considered the first space "selfie." Aldrin’s photo, captured with a camera mounted on the edge of the spacecraft hatch, shows Earth in the background and has become an iconic image in space exploration history.

Untethered Spacewalk

In 1984, Bruce McCandless II performed the first untethered spacewalk using a nitrogen-propelled Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU). During the STS-41-B Space Shuttle Mission, McCandless floated 91 meters (300 feet) from the Shuttle Challenger, showcasing the MMU’s capabilities and setting a new precedent for space mobility.

Space Salvage with a Twist

Later in 1984, astronauts Dale Gardner and Joseph Allen conducted the first space salvage mission, retrieving faulty satellites from orbit. Using the MMU, Allen maneuvered to the Palapa B-2 satellite, which had failed to reach its intended orbit, and inserted a capture device to stabilize it. The mission, dubbed a "scrap-yard salvage," successfully returned the satellites to the Space Shuttle’s cargo bay.

These historic spacewalks illustrate the human spirit’s resilience and innovation in exploring the vastness of space. With each new mission, astronauts continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, paving the way for future achievements in space exploration.

[leapingmonkeys]

Astronaut Bruce McCandless Performs the First Untethered Spacewalk - February 7, 1984

[astronotmovie]

Getting a foothold in space. Bruce McCandless tests out a mobile foot restraint aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on STS 41-B, Feb 1984. The near 8-day mission witnessed the first untethered spacewalk performed by Mr. McCandless. He ventured further from the Space Shuttle than any astronaut ever had from their spacecraft (320 feet) courtesy the Manned Maneuvering Unit. The MMU was a nitrogen propelled jet backpack controlled by joysticks at the end of the arm rests. This historic EVA lasted just under 6 hours.

[spaceexp]

NASA Remembers Astronaut Bruce McCandless II

NASA logo. Dec. 23, 2017 Former NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II, mission specialist on the STS-41B and STS-31 missions, passed away on Dec. 21, 2017, at the age of 80.

Image above: Official Space Shuttle portrait showing Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, attired in the Shuttle Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Suit with Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) attached and American flag in background. Image Credit: NASA. Gallery: Images of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II: https://www.nasa.gov/content/images/bruce-mccandless Biography: Bruce McCandless II: https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mccandless-b.html McCandless is perhaps best remembered as the subject of a famous NASA photograph (below right), flying alongside the space shuttle in the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) -- the first astronaut to fly untethered from his spacecraft. His time as an astronaut encompassed much more than that mission, including serving as the Mission Control communicator for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's moonwalk on the Apollo 11 mission. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bruce's family," said acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot. "He will always be known for his iconic photo flying the MMU." McCandless, a retired U. S. Navy captain, was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He was a member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 14 mission and was backup pilot for the first crewed Skylab mission. He flew as a mission specialist on two space shuttle missions. On STS-41B in 1984, he performed the famous spacewalk and on STS-31 in 1990 he helped deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. Of his famous spacewalk, he wrote in 2015: "My wife [Bernice] was at mission control, and there was quite a bit of apprehension. I wanted to say something similar to Neil [Armstrong] when he landed on the moon, so I said, 'It may have been a small step for Neil, but it’s a heck of a big leap for me.' That loosened the tension a bit." Born June 8, 1937, in Boston, McCandless graduated from Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Long Beach, California. He received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1958, a master of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1965, and a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City in 1987.

Image above: Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, STS-41B mission specialist, uses his hands to control his movement above the Earth - and just few meters away from the space shuttle Challenger - during the first-ever spacewalk which didn't use restrictive tethers and umbilicals. Fellow crewmembers aboard the Challenger used a 70mm camera to expose this frame through windows on the flight deck. Image Credit: NASA. He was a co-investigator on the M-509 astronaut maneuvering unit experiment which was flown in the Skylab Program and collaborated on the development of the MMU. He was responsible for crew inputs to the development of hardware and procedures for the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), the Hubble Space Telescope, the Solar Maximum Repair Mission, and the Space Station Program. McCandless logged more than 312 hours in space, including four hours of flight time using the MMU. Among the awards and honors received by McCandless are the Legion of Merit (1988); Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal (1985); National Defense Service Medal; American Expeditionary Service Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1974); American Astronautical Society Victor A. Prather Award (1975 & 1985); NASA Space Flight Medal (1984); NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal (1985); National Aeronautic Association Collier Trophy (1985); Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum Trophy (1985). He was awarded one patent for the design of a tool tethering system that was used during shuttle spacewalks. Captain McCandless was the son of the late Rear Admiral (USN) and Mrs. Bruce McCandless. Admiral McCandless received the Congressional Medal of Honor for the naval battle of Guadalcanal, Dec. 12-13, 1942. He passed away in 1968. His paternal grandfather, Commodore (later Rear Admiral) Byron McCandless, USN, received the Navy Cross for World War I, and his maternal grandfather, Captain Willis Winter Bradley, USN, was the first recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War I. Captain McCandless is survived by his wife, Ellen Shields McCandless of Conifer, Colorado; his son, Bruce McCandless III of Austin, Texas and his wife, Patricia; his daughter, Tracy McCandless, of Islamorada, Florida, and two granddaughters, Emma Rose and Carson Clare McCandless of Austin.  He is also survived by a brother, Douglas M. McCandless of Washington, D.C., and two sisters, Sue M. Woodridge of Texas, and Rosemary V. McCandless of Dallas, Texas.

Astronaut Bruce McCandless II Floats Free in Space

Video above: On Feb. 7, 1984, during the Space Shuttle Challenger’s STS-41B mission, NASA Astronaut Bruce McCandless II makes the first, untethered, free flight spacewalk in the Manned Maneuvering Unit. Video Credit: NASA. Images (mentioned), Video (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Sarah Loff. R.I.P., Orbiter.ch Full article

[space-lovers]

February 7th, 1984. The first untethered space walk. 😍😱

Can you imagine floating in the vacuum of space with nothing anchoring you to the spacecraft? On Feb. 7, 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless made history performing a spacewalk during STS-41B with no lifelines tethering him to space shuttle Challenger. Using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), McCandless and astronaut Bob Stewart completed separate untethered spacewalks during the mission, both venturing more than 300 feet/ 91 meters from Challenger.

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Credit: NASA

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#astronomy #Space

[michaelgabrill]

Astronaut Bruce McCandless Performs the First Untethered Spacewalk

Astronaut Bruce McCandless II approaches his maximum distance from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger in this 70mm photo from Feb. 7, 1984. While testing out the nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled back-pack device called the manned maneuvering unit (MMU) for the first time, McCandless’s fellow crewmembers aboard the reusable vehicle photographed him. The MMU allowed crews to move […] from NASA https://ift.tt/8eIr062