NASA Astronaut First Went into Space Without Insurance 40 Years Ago

February 7 marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary photograph of astronaut Bruce McCandless II, floating alone in outer space after disconnecting from the shuttle “Challenger” STS-41b. This historic picture captured the testing of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a device designed for autonomous spacewalks without the need for safety tethers.

The development of such a daring concept required the dedicated efforts of NASA engineers. During the Gemini program in 1966, astronaut Gene Cernan narrowly escaped death while testing a similar prototype. It took years of hard work by NASA specialists before the MMU became a compact maneuvering device in 1984, resembling a reactive backpack that enables astronauts to “fly” around spacecraft.

The first volunteer to test the MMU was Bruce McCandless II, a legendary man and veteran of the space program. After disconnecting from the shuttle, he showcased the unique capabilities of the MMU by flying 100 meters and executing various maneuvers. The photograph of McCandless soaring alone above the Earth with the outstretched wings of his spacesuit has since become an iconic image in the annals of history.

The MMU device utilized compressed nitrogen as its fuel and was controlled through manual controllers. It had a mass of 150 kg. The reactive backpack was employed in three additional shuttle missions in 1984. Unfortunately, following the tragedy of the Challenger, its use was deemed excessively dangerous.