photo #8628475

One of the most breathtaking moments in space history took place in 1984 during NASA’s STS-51-A mission. Astronaut Dale Gardner, wearing the jet-powered Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), performed an untethered spacewalk to bring back the stranded Westar VI satellite.Floating freely in orbit with only the MMU to control his movements, Gardner carefully closed in on the tumbling satellite, secured it with a special capture tool, and guided it safely into the Shuttle Discovery’s payload bay.This daring rescue not only saved valuable equipment but also proved just how precise and capable astronauts could be when operating in the weightlessness of space. 📸 Credit: NASA