41B_v_c_o_TPMBK (S84-27999, STS41B-44-2702 eq)

“Bruce McCandless practices with the trunnion pin attachment device (TPAD) and manned maneuvering unit (MMU) docking with the shuttle pallet satellite (SPAS-01A).”

Above associated with the image, from/at:

nara.getarchive.net/media/41b-44-2702-sts-41b-bruce-mccan...
Credit: NARA & DVIDS PUBLIC DOMAIN ARCHIVE website

Also & better, from other photos (linked to below) of the same activity:

“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.”

And/or:

“Astronaut Bruce McCandless, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) in its first flight tests, prepares to perform a docking maneuver during flight 41-B of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Using a docking adapter called a TPAD (Trunion Pin Attachment Device), McCandless docked with a pin on the Shuttle pallet satellite. This procedure was a rehearsal for the upcoming Solar Max repair mission.”

If it were ‘properly’ oriented, that is, from the perspective of the shuttle flight deck, from which/where the photograph I assume was taken, McCandless should be facing ‘downward’. However, this rarely seen image is so damned cool, I chose to orient it in a more familiar/comfortable perspective, to better take in its multitude of coolness.

The insect-like ‘antennae’:

twitter.com/kiwibacon/status/1359158862998368262?s=46&amp...
Credit: Steve Rice/Twitter

Note also the "flat-top" appearance of McCandless' helmet, due to it actually being the housing of the solid state color TV camera...attached to the top of the helmet. The camera was manufactured by Fairchild Weston Systems Inc., of Syosset, N.Y.
Finally, note the "EV1" labeling of the carabiner just above McCandless' left forearm & whatever is just below his right forearm. Apparently, during the EVAs, McCandless' call-sign during air-to-ground transmissions was "EV-1" & Stewart’s was "EV-2." How that translates to labeling of equipment - I don't know. Maybe they were individually configured/adjusted for ease/convenience of use by the respective Astronaut.

The two pointless observations above are from the following informative document:

spacepresskit.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/sts-41b.pdf
Credit: Nick Deakin/"Space Presskits" website

Taken on: June 6, 2023

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S84-27999

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