.
Dimensions:
Overall: 4 ft. 2 in. tall x 2 ft. 9 5/16 in. wide x 2 ft. 4 in. deep (127 x 84.61 x 71.12cm)
Materials:
Aluminum structure; internal electronics and metal components
The Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) is a backpack propulsion device that gave astronauts mobility for extravehicular activities outside the Space Shuttle. It enabled them to maneuver within the payload bay or fly some distance away without needing safety tethers anchored to the vehicle. The MMU had 24 small gaseous nitrogen thrusters and was operated with hand controllers on the arms of the unit.
On February 7, 1984, on Space Shuttle mission STS 41-B, astronaut Bruce McCandless tested this MMU, serial number 3. He made the first untethered spacewalk as he flew some 300 feet from the Shuttle. This MMU also flew on missions STS 41-C as the backup unit for the Solar Max satellite retrieval and STS 51-A as the prime unit for retrieving the Palapa communications satellite. Astronauts Bruce McCandless, Robert Stewart, James van Hoften, and Joseph Allen flew MMU #3 a total of 6 hours 29 minutes during these three 1984 missions. The MMUs were not used again. NASA transferred this one to the The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 2001.
-
-
-
Artwork showing supportive equipment for contingency EVA
-
Astronaut Bruce McCandless during an underwater test MMU/FSS in bldg 29 WETF
-
EMU TV system test
-
Official portrait of Astronaut Bruce McCandless
-
Crew portrait of the space shuttle mission 41-B crew
-
Launch view of Challenger and the 41-B mission
-
EVA by McCandless - Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
View of the Challenger from the fixed camera in McCandless's helmet
-
View of Astronaut Bruc McCandless during EVA
-
View of Astronaut Bruc McCandless during EVA
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Close-up view of Astronaut McCandless during his EVA
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity of Astronaut Stewart during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
View of Astronaut Bruc McCandless during EVA
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Views of the extravehicular activity during STS 41-B
-
Aerial view of the Challenger making approach for landing at KSC
-
Views of the Challenger after landing at Kennedy to end shuttle mission 41-B
-
Fotos: NASA