McCandless untethered
NASA / STS-41-B crew, 1984
No rope. A white suit, a backpack, and the whole Earth under his boots. If the pack coughs, there is nothing to grab. He made himself a satellite on purpose. The planet is not a floor.
About this work
On February 7, 1984, during Space Shuttle mission STS-41-B, Bruce McCandless II flew away from the orbiter Challenger with no tether at all. He was strapped into the Manned Maneuvering Unit, a backpack with nitrogen thrusters, and this photograph, taken from inside the cabin with a 70mm camera, catches him at his farthest point from the shuttle before he reversed and flew back. It was the first untethered spacewalk. McCandless was a U.S. Navy officer, aviator and electrical engineer who had been selected as an astronaut in 1966 and waited nearly eighteen years for his first flight. The MMU flew on only three shuttle missions, all in 1984: STS-41-B, STS-41-C and STS-51-A, where it was used to retrieve two faulty communications satellites, Westar VI and Palapa B2. It was then retired. Its smaller successor, SAFER, first flew in 1994 and is meant only for emergencies. NASA catalogues this frame as S84-27031.
Sources: NASA Image and Video Library · Wikipedia: Bruce McCandless II · Wikipedia: Manned Maneuvering Unit
Print facts
- Native resolution
- 8,025 × 8,025 px
- Sharp at 150 ppi up to
- 53 × 53 in
- Sizes
- Small (20 × 20 in) · $100 · 401 ppi
Medium (24 × 24 in) · $150 · 334 ppi
Large (36 × 36 in) · $300 · 223 ppi - Price includes
- Frame and US shipping · 14–21 days · 30-day returns
FAQ
Where can I buy a framed print of McCandless untethered?
Here. McCandless untethered is available as a framed print in three sizes: Small (20 × 20 in) for $100, Medium (24 × 24 in) for $150 and Large (36 × 36 in) for $300. Prices include the frame and US shipping; delivery takes 14–21 days, with 30-day returns.
What size works best for McCandless untethered?
The file is 8,025 × 8,025 px, so every size is sharp: even Large (36 × 36 in) prints at 223 ppi. Choose Large (36 × 36 in) for a large wall; Small (20 × 20 in) suits a narrower space.
Is it legal to print McCandless untethered?
Yes. NASA made this photograph, and NASA material is not protected by copyright in the United States unless noted, so it can be printed and sold. A print does not imply NASA endorsement, and NASA's logos and insignia are not covered.
