NASA Celebrates 40 Years Since First Untethered Spacewalk

The historic feat by astronaut Bruce McCandless II in 1984 marked a significant milestone in space exploration.

On February 7, 1984, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II performed the first untethered spacewalk, using a Manned Maneuvering Unit.
The remarkable achievement allowed McCandless to float 300 feet away from the Space Shuttle Challenger, showcasing unprecedented freedom in space.
Despite concerns about the safety of using a self-propelled backpack in space, the mission was a success, with McCandless and fellow astronaut Robert Stewart both completing untethered flights.
The iconic photograph of McCandless floating freely in space has become one of the most celebrated images in space exploration history.
NASA has since explored other methods for spacewalks, but the untethered spacewalk remains a historic moment of human achievement in space.