FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK   / mikekillianphotography  

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM   / mikekillianphotography  

On Feb. 12, 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless, ventured further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut had ever been. This space first was made possible by a nitrogen jet propelled backpack, previously known at NASA as the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU.

After a series of test maneuvers inside and above Challenger's payload bay, McCandless went "freeflying" to a distance of 320 feet away from the Orbiter. This stunning orbital panorama view shows McCandless out there amongst the black and blue of Earth and space.

Credit: When We Left Earth miniseries