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Author
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Topic: Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) displays
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Flying Dutchman
Member Posts: 161
From: Heemstede
Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 01-13-2007 03:34 PM
   
Where are the manned maneuvering units (MMUs) used, for example, by Bruce McCandless, Dale Gardner and Joe Allen? Are they in storage or in a museum? And am I right, the tetherless MMUs are not used anymore? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50467
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-13-2007 04:13 PM
The Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) flown by McCandless — MMU Number 3 — was acquired by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum from NASA in 1998. In October 2004, it taken out of storage and hung in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly Virginia. I believe the other two flight units are still the property of NASA, though I may be mistaken. A training unit is on display at Space Center Houston. quote:
Originally posted by Flying Dutchman:
And am I right, the tetherless MMUs are not used anymore?
Yes, the last flight of the MMU was in November 1984. Today however, modern U.S. spacesuits are outfitted with SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue) a snap-on MMU of sorts, intended for emergency use should an astronaut become separated from the shuttle or station. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1732
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 02-07-2009 09:31 AM
How many MMUs were built? |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 353
From: Chattanooga, TN
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 02-07-2009 12:17 PM
A flight article is on display at the US Space & Rocket Center: |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50467
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2009 01:12 PM
A Guard-Lee high-fidelity replica of the same MMU (no. 2) on display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center can be found opposite the exit from the Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50467
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2009 07:11 PM
Here is the training unit on display at Space Center Houston: |
AFGAS
Member Posts: 89
From: Merritt Island, FL
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 02-16-2009 04:15 PM
There is also a model (Guard-Lee I believe) at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Columbus GA. |
Greggy_D
Member Posts: 1007
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 02-16-2009 04:54 PM
Which flights/astronauts used which MMUs?Obviously McCandless (STS-41B) used #3. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 02-16-2009 04:59 PM
The building at JSC that houses the vaccuum chamber (not sure the number of the building) also has an MMU on display near the building's entrance. I don't know if it is a training mockup or a flight article though (I doubt it is a flight article). You can see it on the Level 9 tour as it visits the vacuum chamber. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1732
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 02-16-2009 06:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Greggy_D:
Which flights/astronauts used which MMUs?
I believe the MMU was used on only three missions. STS-41B (McCandless/Stewart); STS-41C (Nelson/van Hoften), and STS-51A (Allen/Gardner). Which MMUs were used on each flight I couldn't tell you. |
Flying Dutchman
Member Posts: 161
From: Heemstede
Registered: Jan 2007
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posted 08-24-2009 11:05 AM
Can anyone tell me some more about the KSC MMU in the Visitor's Shop? Is it a training one or just a replica? |
AFGAS
Member Posts: 89
From: Merritt Island, FL
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 08-26-2009 11:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Delta7:
Which MMUs were used on each flight I couldn't tell you.
According to the Smithsonian, MMU #3 flew all three flights. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1527
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 08-26-2009 12:52 PM
There is an Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) trainer aboard the USS Hornet with pictures of Gene Cernan training to use the AMU on Gemini IX. |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 08-27-2009 12:41 PM
There's also an AMU mockup at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50467
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-23-2023 09:52 PM
From the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum (via Facebook): Super excited to show off our new addition to the Southern Colorado Space Museum in Hangar 2!! On loan from Lockheed Martin, this is a real space suit with a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) enabled a few astronauts to maneuver in outer space, outside of spacecraft, and free of tether lines.  
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