The astronaut behind one of the ‘most terrifying photos’ ever taken in space shared the eerie story behind it.
The late Bruce McCandless II reflected on his groundbreaking mission before his passing, which included capturing an especially unsettling image.
For many, the vastness of space is terrifying, with its distance from Earth, potential space debris, and the possibility of alien megastructures or strange anomalies outside the International Space Station.
However, one of the most terrifying moments in space was captured on camera.
In 1984, 47-year-old aviator Bruce McCandless embarked on a Space Shuttle mission to deploy two communication satellites for the first time.
This mission was also significant for another reason: McCandless became the subject of what would later be known as the “most terrifying space photo” ever taken, as he made the first untethered “spacewalk.”
McCandless and fellow astronaut Bob Stewart strapped into Manned Manoeuvring Units (MMUs) and left the safety of their spacecraft.
The MMUs allowed them to move through open space, completely untethered, at speeds of about 28,900 kilometers per hour.
McCandless spent nearly seven hours “spacewalking,” and the iconic photo taken from the Challenger shuttle shows him floating freely above Earth, a chilling sight, even for those without a fear of space.
More than three decades after becoming the first person to complete an untethered free flight, McCandless shared with The Guardian that there had been some tension within NASA regarding the mission.
“My wife was at mission control, and there was quite a bit of apprehension,” he recalled.
Despite the tense atmosphere, McCandless admitted it didn’t feel as terrifying as it appeared. He joked, “I wanted to say something like Neil [Armstrong] did when he landed on the Moon, so I said, ‘It may have been a small step for Neil, but it’s a heck of a big leap for me.'” His lighthearted remark helped ease the tension.
He also mentioned that, although he had been briefed about the silent vacuum of space, his experience was anything but tranquil.
He humorously mentioned that during his spacewalk, his radio was bombarded with questions, making it clear that things weren’t as peaceful as they might seem.
He went on to explain, “My walk lasted six hours and 45 minutes, and I stayed next to the shuttle the entire time, moving 100 yards one way, then 100 yards back.”
He added, “I was traveling at more than 18,000 miles per hour, but I didn’t feel it because the shuttle was moving at the same speed.”
“It was only when I looked at Earth that I realized we were moving pretty fast.”
At one point, as he passed over the Florida peninsula, he found it reassuring to see something familiar below.
“It was a wonderful feeling, a mix of personal elation and professional pride: it had taken many years to get to that point.”
After accumulating more than 312 hours in space, McCandless retired from NASA in 1990 and went on to work for Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
McCandless passed away at the age of 80 in 2017 and was laid to rest at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis.
