Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)
A one-man propulsion backpack, used on Space
Shuttle missions, that snaps onto the back of a spacesuit's portable
life-support system. The MMU allows an astronaut to work outside without
a tether up to 100 meters away from the Orbiter and is designed to provide
EVA support for as much as six hours at a stretch. The MMU weighs 140 kg
and is propelled by nitrogen gas fed to 24 thruster jets. Two pressurized
nitrogen tanks can be filled from the Orbiter's onboard supply. All systems
on the MMU are dual redundant – if one system fails, a second can
completely take over. The MMU was first tested in space by Bruce McCandless
in 1994.
Related category
• MANNED
SPACEFLIGHT
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