Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 171 (February 9, 2008)
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heng44 Member Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 02-09-2008 02:46 AM
This week's photo was selected as I was processing images for the STS-41B image library. It was taken on February 7, 1984, and shows how Bruce McCandless has just started backing away from the shuttle Challenger in the first untethered spacewalk, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit. Referring to Neil Armstrong's famous words, he said: "That may have been a small step for Neil, but it's a heck of a big leap for me". Ed Hengeveld |
rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 02-09-2008 12:08 PM
"ground control to Major Tom..."Ed - a great image, as always. I particularly love this one. Thanks for sharing these with us week after week -- it is always a highlight of my weekend. Rich |
Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 02-09-2008 02:57 PM
Actually: "ground control to Captain Bruce..." |
FutureAstronaut Member Posts: 372 From: Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-10-2008 05:40 AM
This is almost too cool to be real! |
ApolloAlex Member Posts: 390 From: Yeovil, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-10-2008 06:17 AM
I had the pleasure of meeting Bruce McCandless a few years back and had him sign the usual WSS photo and of course a photo of him floating free in space on his EVA possibly one of the most iconic pics of the Shuttle program era.But nevertheless Ed another great image for us, you have some real beauties. Cheers, Alex. ------------------ "Why dont you fix your little problem and light this Candle?" |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 02-10-2008 06:19 AM
Alex - now you need to get Hoot Gibson to sign it with the credit, "Photo by Hooter."Tim |
ApolloAlex Member Posts: 390 From: Yeovil, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-10-2008 07:25 AM
quote: Originally posted by KSCartist: Now you need to get Hoot Gibson to sign it with the credit, "Photo by Hooter."
Tim, now that would be very very cool idea and not a bad one either.Cheers, Alex. ------------------ "Why dont you fix your little problem and light this Candle?" |
spaceheaded Member Posts: 147 From: MD Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 02-12-2008 07:20 PM
I had Hoot do just that last June at KSC. And even HE thought it was a cool idea!Bill |
User997 Member Posts: 59 From: Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 02-13-2008 10:20 AM
So why wasn't the MMU ever used more extensively then it was? |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-13-2008 10:22 AM
Too expensive, I think. Lack of mission/usage?Chris. |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 02-13-2008 11:43 AM
IIRC, safety concerns played a partial role in shelving the MMU. What if a thruster got stuck and kept firing?--John |
sts205cdr Member Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 02-13-2008 03:20 PM
After checking, it seems the concern was not so much an anomaly like a stuck thruster, but rather the overall post-Challenger prohibition of combustible propellants in the cargo bay. Also cited was the obvious risk to work sites like the Hubble from thruster exhaust, and the post-Challenger curtailing of DoD Shuttle missions.--John |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-14-2008 12:16 AM
- Both the MMU and SAFER use gaseous nitrogen and I'm not sure that it is a combustible propellant (SAFER would not have been cleared for flight if it was).- Thruster exhaust was cited as a concern when the Shuttle docked with Mir (at least the Russians were not too happy about this at first) but dockings continued (the shuttle uses a different fuel - more corrosive - for its thrusters though), so I'm not sure that's an issue. But I may be wrong! Chris. |