Latest news with #BruceMcCandlessII
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Story Behind the Most Terrifying Space Photo Ever Taken
Imagine drifting alone in space, with no cord connecting you to anything. It's the stuff of nightmares or the freedom of dreams, depending on how you look at it. In 1984, four astronauts did just that, and footage from their untethered flights is again making the rounds, reminding everybody of how incredible -- and frightening -- the emptiness of space can be. NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II stepped away from the Space Shuttle Challenger on Feb. 7, 1984, using a jet-powered backpack called the Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU). He was the first human to float untethered in space. The image of him drifting alone above the Earth is considered the most terrifying space photo ever taken. His spacewalk was not a stunt. It was the first demonstration of a cutting-edge tool designed to help satellite repair and space station construction. Drifting 90 meters away from the shuttle, he showed that astronauts could operate freely in space. Until then, the idea had been purely theoretical. Two days later, fellow astronaut Bob Stewart also donned an MMU, and both men leaped from the shuttle into space. Just months later, NASA would put the MMU to an even greater test. During a November 1984 mission, astronauts Dale Gardner and Joseph Allen donned MMUs for a space salvage mission. Two communications satellites had failed to reach their intended orbit. Rather than letting them become space junk, NASA decided to try and retrieve them. Once their space shuttle was within nine meters of each satellite, they began their untethered spacewalk. Allen went first. He flew out to the satellite and attached a capture device that secured it for transport back to Earth. Then Gardner did the same with the second satellite. Footage of the maneuvers looks straight out of a sci-fi thriller. Despite its success, the MMU was short-lived. After just three missions, NASA retired it in favor of robotic arms and safer, tethered spacewalks. The risk of an astronaut being lost in the void was just too great.
Chicago Tribune
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Mississippi becomes the last state to abolish slavery
Today is Friday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2025. There are 327 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 7, 2013, Mississippi certified its ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, making it the last state to officially abolish slavery. Also on this date: In 1904, the Great Baltimore Fire began; one of the worst city fires in American history, it destroyed over 1,500 buildings in central Baltimore. In 1943, the government abruptly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. (This was reduced to two pairs per year in 1944; rationing was lifted in October 1945.) In 1964, the Beatles were met by thousands of screaming fans at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as they arrived to begin their first American tour. In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed. In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk. In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of Haiti. (He was overthrown by the military the following September.) In 1999, Jordan's King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah. In 2021, after moving south to a new team and conference, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers' home field. In 2023, Lebron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time career scoring leader. Today's birthdays: Author Gay Talese is 93. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., is 73. Actor James Spader is 65. Country singer Garth Brooks is 63. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard is 63. Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 60. Actor Essence Atkins is 53. Basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash is 51. Actor Ashton Kutcher is 47. Actor Deborah Ann Woll is 40. NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford is 37. NHL forward Steven Stamkos is 35.
Boston Globe
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Today in History: February 7, The Beatles arrive for their first US tour
In 1943, the government abruptly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. (This was reduced to two pairs per year in 1944; rationing was lifted in October 1945.) In 1964, the Beatles were met by thousands of screaming fans at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as they arrived to begin their first American tour. Advertisement In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed. In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk. In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of Haiti. (He was overthrown by the military the following September.) In 1999, Jordan's King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah. In 2013, Mississippi certified its ratification of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, making it the last state to officially abolish slavery. In 2021, after moving south to a new team and conference, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers' home field. In 2023, Lebron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time career scoring leader.
