2-860-658 - Heritage Space/Heritage Images

Backpacking, 1984. Astronaut Bruce McCandless II ventured farther away from the confines and safety of his ship than any astronaut ever had. The Manned Maneuvering Unit made this trip possible. The MMU was a nitrogen jet-propelled backpack. After a series of test maneuvers inside and above the shuttle payload bay, McCandless went "free flying" to a distance of 320 feet away from the shuttle. The MMU had joysticks for control at the end of the armrests.