The Flickr Missionspecialist Image Generatr

File: 2007002-0006

Former NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II signing autographs during Autographic 8 event. In a hotel, possibility off Bath Road, next to Heathrow Airport, London, England, United Kingdom. Saturday 3rd March 2007.



About the photograph.

This is the former NASA astronaut Captain Bruce McCandless II, seen here signing autographs for someone else whom is standing in front of him (out of camera view). I was waiting for my turn, and took a few photographs of him doing this task.

The autograph signing was done at a hotel, I can’t remember which hotel, but it is one of the hotels alongside Bath Road, on the north side of Heathrow Airport.

It was happening during a fan convention event called Autographic 8.

This was taken with my Minolta X-700 35mm film SLR camera, however I can’t remember which lens I used, and I can’t remember which film, but most likely Kodak which is always my primary choice, with Agfa as secondary choice.

A while later, it was my turn, I stepped forwards, and had the honour to meet him, got his autograph, and we both posed for the camera.

The film was sent away for develop and printing. The digital photos were either scanned to a CD-ROM at the same time as they were printed, or I may have scanned the prints to my computer. I think the first one is highly likely.



About the subject.

Bruce McCandless II was born under the name of Byron Willis McCandless, on June 8th, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

A year later, his mother changed his name to Bruce McCandless II (named after his father).

He was in the United States Navy as an aviator, and flew McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom, stationed on the USS Forrestal and USS Enterprise. During his naval career, he flew at least 8 different aircraft and clocked over 5,000 flying hours.

At age of 28, he was training with NASA, and in 1969 he served as CAPCOM during the Apollo 11 mission.

His first spaceflight was STS-41-B onboard the Space Shuttle Challenger during February of 1984.

He became famous for the first man to do an untethered and free floating spacewalk, using the MMU.

His second flight was STS-31 on the Space Shuttle Discovery during April 1990. The mission was famous for the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope.

He retired from NASA in 1990, and passed away on December 21, 2017.






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Axiom Mission 3 crew pose together in their space suits during training.

From left to right, ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt, Walter Villadei from Italy, Michael López-Alegría, a dual US-Spanish citizen, and Alper Gezeravcı from Türkiye.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: SpaceX

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt in spacesuit.
Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: SpaceX

Axiom Mission 3 crew pose together in their space suits during training.

From left to right, ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt, Walter Villadei from Italy, Michael López-Alegría, a dual US-Spanish citizen, and Alper Gezeravcı from Türkiye.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: SpaceX

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt looks up as he stands next to the SpaceX Dragon capsule that will take him to the International Space Station next week.

Marcus will be the fifth ESA astronaut to fly on a Dragon spacecraft, and the first of a new generation of Europeans to fly on a commercial spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space.

This picture was taken during his intensive training for Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) in California, USA, where he prepared for his role as mission specialist inside the capsule.

The Swedish astronaut is wearing the flight suit he will use during the critical moments of the Dragon flight – launch, docking, departure and landing. The suit protects the astronaut from the unlikely event of fire or loss of pressure. Embroidered on his left arm is the Swedish flag.

Born in 1980, Marcus Wandt grew up in Hammarö, at the shoreline of the biggest lake in Sweden. ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency are teaming up to support his first space mission, called Muninn.

With just one week to go until launch day, Marcus is currently in quarantine in Florida, USA, a few kilometres away from the Falcon 9 rocket that will boost him into orbit. The launch is scheduled no earlier than 23:11 CET/22:11 GMT on 17 January 2024.

This period of isolation will help keep Marcus and the Axiom 3 crew away from any germs or viruses that might make them sick. Quarantine is also important to minimise the risk of taking any infectious disease with them into space.

Waiting for him in space is ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who is currently orbiting Earth as commander of the International Space Station during his Huginn mission. This will be the first time two Scandinavians live and work together in space, a symbolic tribute to the two ravens that inspired their mission names. Muninn and Huginn are the two raven accomplices of the Norse god Odin. In Nordic mythology, the ravens serve as messengers and advisors to their god, sharing all they see and hear.

Marcus will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting nearly 20 science and technology experiments and running several educational activities.

Watch the launch of Marcus and the Axiom Mission 3 on ESA WebTV on 17 January 2024 at 22:11 GMT/23:11 CET

Follow Marcus’s journey on the Muninn website, check our launch kit and connect with Marcus on his Instagram and X accounts.

Credits: SpaceX

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt during training in the USA for his Muninn mission to the International Space Station.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Axiom Space

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt, mission specialist for the Axiom 3 Mission to the International Space Station, close to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Space X

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt during training in the USA for his Muninn mission to the International Space Station.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Axiom Space

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt during training in the USA for his Muninn mission to the International Space Station.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Axiom Space

Axiom 3 Mission crew next to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

From left to right, ESA project astronaut and mission specialist Marcus Wandt, pilot Walter Villadei, commander Michael López-Alegría and mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Space X

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt during training in the USA for his Muninn mission to the International Space Station.

Marcus Wandt from Sweden will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus is the first of a new generation of European astronauts to fly on a commercial human spaceflight opportunity with Axiom Space. His mission is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

Marcus Wandt was selected in November 2022 as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve after a year-long selection process. The 2022 ESA recruitment campaign received over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States.

Credits: Axiom Space

86543947 :Piction ID--80.94.A--II collecting cards NASA Mission Cards with colored photographic images on one side and cooresponding information on the reverse side Cards include: United Space Alliance Image of a space shuttle on one side and information about space shuttle ope---Please tag these photos so information can be recorded.---Note: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum

“ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE IN WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING --- Mission Specialist/Astronaut Candidate Sally K. Ride watches a fellow pupil gliding over water survival training school at Homestead Air Force Base. Sixteen of the recently named group of 35 Shuttle astronaut candidates took part in the course. The event was designed to prepare the trainees for proper measures to take in the event of emergency ejection from an aircraft over water.

SINCE THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS MADE: Dr. Ride and her 34 fellow class members from Astronaut Group 3 became full-fledged members of the JSC astronaut corps in September 1979. Dr. Ride has been named as mission specialist for STS-7.”

www.pbs.org/newshour/science/life-sally-ride-americas-fir...
Credit: PBS website

Taken much much too early, continue to Rest In Peace Dr. Ride...and Thank You:

www.nasa.gov/topics/people/features/ride.html

"At about 100 meters from the cargo bay of the space shuttle Challenger, Bruce McCandless II was further out than anyone had ever been before. Guided by a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), astronaut McCandless, pictured above, was floating free in space. McCandless and fellow NASA astronaut Robert Stewart were the first to experience such an "untethered space walk" during Space Shuttle mission 41-B in 1984. The MMU works by shooting jets of nitrogen and has since been used to help deploy and retrieve satellites. With a mass over 140 kilograms, an MMU is heavy on Earth, but, like everything, is weightless when drifting in orbit. The MMU was replaced with the SAFER backpack propulsion unit."

Above at/from:

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Astronaut-in-space.jpg
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Superior to the mediocre smorgasbord of NASA descriptions. Frankly, commencing in earnest some time during the 70’s, "official" NASA captions & descriptions pretty much suck, grammatically and in content, substance & accuracy. As evidenced by the following. And these are mild compared to many others:

Caption no. 1, at THE NASA image website:

“Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41-B mission specialist, reaches a maximum distance from the Challenger before reversing direction his manned maneuvering unit (MMU) and returning to the Challenger. A fellow crewmember inside the vehicle's cabin took this photograph with a 70mm camera. The untethered EVA marked the first such experience for astronauts.”

At:

images.nasa.gov/details-S84-27031


Caption no. 2, at a defunct NASA website:

“Astronaut Bruce McCandless, II, mission specialist, participates in a extravehicular activity (EVA), a few meters away from the cabin of the shuttle Challenger. McCandless approaches his maximum distance from the Challenger. He is framed by the blackness of space and below him a cloudy earth. He is floating without tethers connecting him to the shuttle.”

At:

science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/STS41B/100...

Out of this world public domain images from NASA. All original images and many more can be found from the NASA Image Library

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: www.rawpixel.com/board/418580/nasa

Out of this world public domain images from NASA. All original images and many more can be found from the NASA Image Library

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: www.rawpixel.com/board/418580/nasa

Out of this world public domain images from NASA. All original images and many more can be found from the NASA Image Library

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: www.rawpixel.com/board/418580/nasa

Out of this world public domain images from NASA. All original images and many more can be found from the NASA Image Library

Higher resolutions with no attribution required can be downloaded: www.rawpixel.com/board/418580/nasa

Close-up view of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, STS 41-B Mission Specialist, as he performs a test involving the Trunion Pin Attachment Device (TPAD) he carries and the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) in front of him. In this photo, he is about to attach the TPAD to the SPAS-01A. He is wearing one of the experimental Manned Maneuvering Units (MMU) developed for this mission.

STS-41B Astronaut Bruce McCandless II checks the interface between his baby (the Manned Maneuvering Unit) and its berthing dock within Challenger's cargo bay prior to the flight.