Heartbreaking photos of the first untethered spacewalk mark the 40th anniversary of this daring feat.
Bruce McCandless II was the first man to take a harrowing walk through space without any connection to a spacecraft on February 7, 1984.
The daring astronaut used the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) to control his movements instead of being attached to the Challenger shuttle.
The photo of McCandless floating in space 320 feet from the shuttle has become one of NASA’s most popular pieces of archive.
The mission included two untethered spacewalks, which turned out to be the “most critical” for NASA, according to a press release.
Bruce McCandless II was the first man to take a harrowing walk through space untethered to a spacecraft on February 7, 1984. NASA/SWNS The daring astronaut used the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) to control his movements instead to be connected to the shuttle Challenger. NASA/SWNS
During McCandless and Robert Stewart’s spacewalk, which occurred on days four and five of the eight-day mission, the crew lowered the shuttle’s cabin pressure from 14.7 psi to 10.2 to reduce the time Two spacewalkers needed to first breathe pure oxygen and rid their blood of excess nitrogen. Too much nitrogen could cause “kinks when working in their spacesuits at 4.3 psi,” according to NASA.
The next day, McCandless and Stewart would conduct another spacewalk.
“It may have been a small step for Neil, but it’s a big leap for me,” McCandless joked.
McCandless then floated 150 feet away from the shuttle before returning and then moving away 320 feet and then returning safely again. Stewart followed the same procedures.
The space shuttle Challenger. NASA/SWNS The photo of McCandless floating in space 320 feet from the shuttle has become one of NASA’s most popular pieces of archive. NASA/SWNS McCandless floated 150 feet away from the shuttle before returning and then moving 320 feet away and then returning safely to the shuttle. Robert Stewart followed the same procedures. NASA/SWNS Despite the extraordinary achievement, scientists were concerned about the MMU. NASA/SWNS
“The two astronauts ended the spacewalk after 5 hours and 55 minutes,” NASA said.
The mission also saw McCandless “fly” above the spacecraft, using the first “cherry picker” in space, a combined configuration of a mobile foot restraint system (MFR) and a remote manipulation system (RMS). ).
Despite the extraordinary achievement, scientists were concerned about the MMU.
Stewart and McCandless (both pictured in white) used the MMU on the mission. It was McCandless’s first mission to space, although he had served as an astronaut since his selection in 1966, according to the space company. NASA/SWNS
“Many in the agency feared the use of a self-propelled, untethered backpack in space,” said Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, NASA human spaceflight historian.
“Previous spacewalkers remained connected to the vehicle with straps. “This jet-pack allowed crews to move outside the cargo bay and conduct activities outside the safety of the spacecraft.”
It was McCandless’s first mission to space, although he had served as an astronaut since his selection in 1966, according to the space company.
He helped develop the MMU. He also helped create the Astronaut Maneuver Unit, which is the predecessor of the MMU, within Skylab.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn