Geek Fact for February 7th

By Judy Novotny / 02/07/2012 / Geek Facts

In 1984, U.S. astronaut Bruce McCandless made the first untethered space walk.

Bruce McCandless helped to develop the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a rocket-propelled backpack that was worn by an astronaut during shuttle spacewalks. During STS-41-B, aboard the Challenger space shuttle as a Mission Specialist, McCandless tested the MMU in spacewalks and thus became the first person to fly in space without being tethered to a spacecraft.

Learn more at http://www.history.com/topics/bruce-mccandless

About The Author

Judy Novotny

Judy is a computer veteran with 30 years of experience. She has owned everything from a TRS-80, Apple IIe and various Windows-based PCs. She is currently living in her Apple ecosystem at home consisting of an iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, Apple TV, iPod nano and two Time Capsules. She is a fan of all things mobile since she got her first Palm Pilot in 1999. Check out her iPad app, Number Wizard, in the App Store. Follow her on Twitter @junovotech or at Junovo.com.