Bruce McCandless II makes a historic EVA in the history of astronomy today.
Bruce McCandless II has reached its maximum distance from the Challenger space shuttle. Credit: NASA
Bruce McCandless II leaves the Space Shuttle on February 7, 1984 contenderHe quipped, “It may be one small step for Neil, but it’s one giant leap for me.” McCandless was embarking on the first untethered spacewalk, moving through space completely independent of the shuttle. Wearing a manned maneuvering unit (MMU), a nitrogen-powered backpack that he operated by hand control, he detected distances up to 320 feet (98 m). contender. The extravehicular activity (EVA) lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes, during which they tested the MMU; a pair of bifocals that allowed him to manage the focus of his vision despite the constraints of wearing a helmet; and the Manipulator Foot Restraint Workstation Platform for working outside the spacecraft.
