Forty years ago this week, a groundbreaking event in space exploration history occurred, leading to the capture of one of its most iconic images. Bruce McCandless II, a NASA astronaut, made history during the STS-41-B space shuttle mission on Feb. 7, 1984. Equipped with the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), McCandless embarked on the first untethered spacewalk, venturing out from the Challenger’s payload bay into low Earth orbit. Flying solo, propelled by nitrogen gas thrusters, McCandless traversed approximately 320 feet (98 meters) from the spacecraft, marking the inaugural human attempt at a tether-free spacewalk. For 1 hour and 22 minutes, McCandless orbited Earth, effectively becoming the world’s first human satellite. The historic moment was immortalized by Robert “Hoot” Gibson, the pilot of the Challenger, who skillfully captured McCandless soaring high above the Earth using a Hasselblad camera. Although unplanned, Gibson recognized the significance of the images, meticulously ensuring their quality by taking multiple light-meter readings and meticulously checking focus. McCandless himself humorously remarked on the magnitude of his feat, drawing a parallel to Neil Armstrong’s legendary words during the moon landing. Following his remarkable spacewalk, McCandless continued to contribute to space exploration, serving as the voice of NASA’s Mission Control during the Apollo 11 and Apollo 14 missions. His final spaceflight in April 1990 saw him deploying the Hubble Space Telescope from the space shuttle Discovery’s cargo bay during the STS-31 mission. McCandless passed away in 2017 at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering achievements. His MMU, a symbol of his historic flight, is now proudly displayed at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, after being used in three missions in 1984 before retirement due to safety concerns.
