Astronaut Dale Gardner recovering a satellite during an untethered space walk.
And yet, it’s these leaps of faith that keep space exploration goingand the ones that make history.
The pair leaped out of the Space Shuttle Challenger aided by their Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU).
Astronaut Dale Gardner recovering a satellite during an untethered space walk. (Photo: NASA)
At his maximum distance, McCandless flew 300ft from the Challenger while testing the MMU for the first time.
His crew mates aboard the shuttle would take avideoand picture that made headlines around the world.
The image shows the astronaut as a tiny figure against the vast darkness of space.
Astronaut Bruce McCandless II floating untethered. (Photo: NASA)
The lessons from this spacewalk would come in handy months later.
A frightening picture (and accompanyingvideo) shows Gardner maneuvering the satellite with the curvature of Earth beneath him.
So, maybe this footage is all we’ll see of astronauts freely drifting into space.
Astronaut Dale A. Gardner holding a ‘For Sale' sign. (Photo: NASA)
Astronaut Bruce McCandless II floating untethered.
(Photo: NASA)
Astronaut Dale Gardner also performed an untethered spacewalk to recover a satellite.
Astronaut Dale A. Gardner holding a For Sale' sign.
