7 FEB--This Day in US Military History

2015-02-07T13:35:24-05:00

1984 – While in orbit 170 miles above Earth, Navy Captain Bruce McCandless becomes the first human being to fly untethered in space when he exits the U.S. space shuttle Challenger and maneuvers freely, using a bulky white rocket pack of his own design.

McCandless orbited Earth in tangent with the shuttle at speeds greater than 17,500 miles per hour and flew up to 320 feet away from the Challenger. After an hour and a half testing and flying the jet-powered backpack and admiring Earth, McCandless safely reentered the shuttle.
Later that day, Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart tried out the rocket pack, which was a device regarded as an important step toward future operations to repair and service orbiting satellites and to assemble and maintain large space stations. It was the fourth orbital mission of the space shuttle Challenger.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Feb 7 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-02-07T16:12:15-05:00

Space is simultaneously fascinating and terrifying to me.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 4:39 PM

2015-02-07T16:39:14-05:00

That's pretty darn cool -- flying outside the mother ship untethered. Takes some guts, I'd say. Thanks for reminding us of this bit of history, MSG Private RallyPoint Member.