Astronaut Bruce McCandless II approaches his maximum distance from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger in this 70mm frame photographed by his fellow crewmembers onboard the reusable vehicle. McCandless is in the midst of the first “field” tryout of the nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled back-pack device called the manned maneuvering unit (MMU). Astronaut Robert L. Stewart got a chance to test the same unit a while later in the lengthy EVA session while the two spacewalkers were photographed and monitored by their fellow crewmembers in Challenger’s cabin. Those inside were Astronauts Vance D. Brand, Robert L. Gibson and Dr. Ronald E. McNair.
Related posts
-
Happy 35th birthday, Hubble Telescope! 10 times the iconic observatory blew astronomers’ minds (photos)
For 35 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has served as humanity’s tireless eye in the sky,... -
Aging gracefully: The Hubble Telescope is in ‘excellent technical condition’ on its 35th birthday, its chief scientist says
The Hubble Space Telescope is celebrating its 35th anniversary in space today, but even as a... -
Rocket Lab introduces line of customizable solar arrays for satellites
Rocket Lab is showing that’s about more than just rockets. The California-based company has introduced a...