Bruce McCandless II

US astronaut and first untethered spacewalker

Bruce McCandless II - US astronaut and first untethered spacewalker
Born

1937
88 years ago

Died

December 21st, 2017
7 years ago — 80 years old

Category

Explorers & Adventurers

Country

United States

Links & References

Performed the first untethered spacewalk in 1984 during the STS-41-B mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. This historic EVA exhibited the capabilities of the Manned Maneuvering Unit, a device that allowed astronauts to move freely in space. McCandless dedicated his career to space exploration, participating in three Space Shuttle flights, and contributed to various missions by utilizing advanced spacecraft systems. His work emphasized the importance of human presence and maneuverability in space operations.

Conducted the first untethered spacewalk in 1984

Participated in three Space Shuttle missions

Utilized the Manned Maneuvering Unit in space

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