Above Earth In April 1983, NASA Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, a mission specialist, participates in an extravehicular activity a few meters away from the cabin of the shuttle Challenger during the STS-41B mission. He is using a nitrogen-propelled hand-controlled manned maneuvering unit. This was the first time an astronaut performed a spacewalk without being tethered to the shuttle. SHARE: Download: Full Size (2.23 MB) Tags: NASA, spacesuitandspacewalkhistoryimagegallery Credit: NASA VIRIN: 090820-D-D0439-101.JPG Photo Gallery