S83-40555 (15 October 1983) --- These five astronauts are in training for the STS-41B mission, scheduled early next year. On the front row are Vance D. Brand, commander; and Robert L. Gibson, pilot. Mission specialists (back row, left to right) are Robert L. Stewart, Dr. Ronald E. McNair and Bruce McCandless II. Stewart and McCandless are wearing Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMU) space suits. The STS program's second extravehicular activity (EVA) is to be performed on this flight, largely as a rehearsal for a scheduled repair visit to the Solar Maximum Satellite (SMS), on a later mission. The Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) will make its space debut on STS-41B.

S84-26935 (31 Jan 1984) --- Three members of the STS 41-B astronaut crew arrive in Florida following a brief T-38 flight from Houston. Leading the crew from the flight line is Astronaut Vance D. Brand (right), crew commander. Following behind (in blue flight suits) are Astronauts Ronald E. McNair (center) and Robert L. Stewart (both mission specialists. They were met by Terry White (pictured), JSC public information industrial relations manager. Not pictured are Astronauts Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Bruce McCandless II, mission specialist. Launch is scheduled for February 3, 1983.

S83-45520 (December 1983) --- The space shuttle Challenger, making its fourth spaceflight, highlights the 41B insignia. The reusable vehicle is flanked in the oval by an illustration of another PAM-D assisted satellite deployment; and astronaut making the first non-tethered extravehicular activity (EVA); and eleven stars. The crew member at right is equipped with the manned maneuvering unit (MMU), a debuting backpack/motor apparatus allowing for much greater freedom of movement than that experienced by any previous space travelers performing EVA. Surnames of the five astronaut crew members balance the Robert McCall artwork. They are Vance D. Brand, Robert L. Stewart, Bruce McCandless II, Ronald E. McNair, Robert L. Gibson. The flight is scheduled for a launch in early 1984. The NASA insignia design for space shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA

S84-27154 (11 Feb 1984) --- The first Space Shuttle landing on the Kennedy Space Center?s landing facility was recorded by a ground camera on February 11, 1984. A T-38 chase plane trails the Challenger. The nose gear has not yet touched down in this scene. Aboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Vance D. Brand, commander; Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Bruce McCandless II, Ronald R. McNair and Robert L. Stewart, all mission specialists.

S84-27717 (11 Feb 1984) --- A chase plane gets a "front row" position to view the touchdown of the total landing gear of the Space Shuttle Challenger as the reusable spacecraft makes NASA's first landing on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) landing facility. This photograph was taken from another T-38 chase plane.

S84-27026 (3-11 Feb. 1984) --- The "star burst" type informal portrait of Space Shuttle crews has become somewhat of a tradition and the five-member STS-41B crew is no exception. HOLD PICTURE WITH SEMI-CIRCLE AT LOWER RIGHT CORNER. Counter clockwise from the lower left are Astronauts Vance D. Brand commander; Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Dr. Ronald E. McNair; Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart, all mission specialists. The five are on the mid-deck of the Earth-orbiting Challenger. The "semi-circle" is actually part of the monodisperse latex reactor (MLR) experiment. A pre-set 35mm camera was triggered automatically to expose the frame.

S84-27027 (3-11 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Robert L. Gibson, STS-41B pilot, reviews some teleprinter copy on the flight deck's starboard station during the eight-day STS-41B Space Shuttle mission. Four other astronauts share the Challenger with Gibson. They are astronauts Vance D. Brand, commander; and Ronald E. McNair, Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart, all mission specialists. The photograph was taken from the commander's station with a 35mm camera.

S84-27155 (11 Feb 1984) --- The first Space Shuttle landing in Florida was recorded just moments prior to touchdown on the long landing facility of the Kennedy Space Center. Patches of fog were sighted near the round, but they were not a factor in the landing. Along with Astronaut Vance D. Brand, crew commander at Challenger?s controls, also onboard were Astronaut Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Bruce McCandless II, Robert L. Stewart and Ronald E. McNair, all mission specialists.

S84-27024 (7 Feb 1984) --- This 70mm frame centers on a foot restraint that strayed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger during the February 9, 1984 extravehicular activity (EVA) session of astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert Stewart. As seen in JSC photograph frame number S84-27025, McCandless goes after the piece. Not pictured is Vance D. Brand, crew commander, who moved the spacecraft nearer the object.

41B-07-230 (S84-27027) (3-11 February 1984) ---Astronaut Robert L. Gibson, 41-B pilot, reviews some teleprinter copy on the flight deck?s starboard station during the eight-day 41-B Space Shuttle mission. Four other astronauts share the Challenger with Gibson. They are Astronauts Vance D. Brand, commander; and Ronald E. McNair, Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart, all mission specialists. The photograph was taken from the commander?s station with a 35mm camera.

S84-27211 (8 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, 41-B mission specialist, uses some of his off-duty time, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, to play his saxaphone.

41G-03-008 (5-13 Oct. 1984) --- The end effector of the space shuttle Challenger's remote manipulator system (RMS) taps against the shuttle imaging radar's (SIR-B) antenna to secure it during NASA's 41-G mission. Photo credit: NASA

S84-27031 (7 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41-B mission specialist, reaches a maximum distance from the Challenger before reversing direction his manned maneuvering unit (MMU) and returning to the Challenger. A fellow crewmember inside the vehicle's cabin took this photograph with a 70mm camera. The untethered EVA marked the first such experience for astronauts.

S84-27232 (& Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41-B mission specialist, uses his hands to control his movement above the Earth - and just few meters away from the Challenger - during the first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA) which didn?t use restrictive tethers and umbilical?s. Fellow crewmembers aboard the Challenger used a 70mm camera to expose this frame through windows on the flight deck. McCandless was joined by Robert L. Stewart, one of two other mission specialists for this flight, on two sessions of EVA.

S78-35300 (31 Jan 1978) -- NASA Astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair (PH.D.) was assigned as a mission specialist and was a crewmember on two Space Shuttle Missions. He first flew on STS 41-B in 1984 where he performed numerous science experiments. On his second flight, STS 51-L, Dr. McNair died on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA Photograph

S84-27204 (3-11 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, STS 41-B mission specialist, prepares to assemble meal items aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. The galley is located in the mid deck. The number of items in the area signals how busy it is. Later Dr. McNair died on January 28, 1986 on his next space flight STS 51-L when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

S84-27020 (7 Feb 1984) --- A fixed camera on astronaut Bruce McCandless II's helmet recorded this rare scene of the Space Shuttle Challenger some 50 to 60 meters away during a history-making extravehicular activity (EVA), February 7, 1984. The Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) is configured mid-cargo bay. Astronaut Robert L. Stewart, standing beneath the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm, later donned the same Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) which afforded McCandless the freedom of movement to record this image. Also visible in the cargo bay are the support stations for the two MMU back-packs, the sunshields for the Palapa B and Westar VI Satellites, KU-Band antenna and a number of Getaway Special (GAS) canisters.

S84-27022 (7 Feb 1984) --- A 35mm frame from the February 7, 1984, extravehicular activity (EVA) photographed with a camera affixed to the gear of astronaut Bruce McCandless II. The mission specialist was equipped with the nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), which took him some 90 meters away from the Space Shuttle Challenger. This scene is reminiscent of views of the Challenger during the June 1983, STS-7 flight, on which the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS - seen here in the middle of the cargo bay) provided scenes of 38-meter-long reusable vehicle over the Earth.

S84-27023 (7 Feb 1984) --- This 70mm frame shows astronaut Bruce McCandless II moving in to conduct a test involving the Trunion Pin Attachment Device (TPAD) he carries and the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) partially visible at bottom of frame. SPAS was a stand-in for the damaged Solar Maximum Satellite (SMS) which will be visited for repairs by the STS-41C Shuttle crew in early spring. This particular Extravehicular Activity (EVA) session was a rehearsal for the SMS visit. The test and the actual visit to the SMS both involve the use of jet-powered, hand-controlled Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). The one McCandless uses is the second unit to be tested on this flight. Astronaut Robert L. Stewart got a chance to work with both MMU's on the two EVA's.

S83-33925 (14 June 1983) --- Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, one of NASA?s three 41-B mission specialists, participates in a training session in the Shuttle one-g trainer in the Johnson Space Center?s mockup and integrating laboratory. He stands at the aft flight deck, where controls for the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm are located. Dr. McNair and the remainder of the five-man astronaut crew are scheduled to lift into space aboard the Challenger on February 3, 1984.

S84-27021 (7 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41B mission specialist tests a "cherry-picker" type device during February 7 historical Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The EVA, in which Astronauts McCandless and Robert L. Stewart, two of three STS-41B mission specialists, participated, marked two firsts--initial use of both the Mobile Foot Restraint (MFR) attached to the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm here, and the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) backpack (not seen in this frame). The Challenger was flying with its aft end aimed toward the Earth. This photograph clearly shows where the MFR connects to the end effector of the Canadian-built RMS arm. The two spacewalkers were monitored and photographed by their fellow crewmembers, astronauts Vance D. Brand, commander; Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist. The three remained in the cabin for another EVA session two days later. Photo Credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Shortly after sunrise the space shuttle orbiter Challenger touches down on the KSC runway at 7:16 a.m. The T-38 escort chase plane is seen just above the orbiter. The historic first landing at KSC brought to a conclusion an eight-day mission that started at 8:00 a.m. Feb. 3, 1984. The STS 41-B mission had several other firsts including an un-tethered spacewalk made by two of the astronauts. The Vehicle Assembly Building can be seen in the right side of the photograph. Photo credit: NASA

S84-27219 (3-11 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, 41-B mission specialist, doubles as "director" for a movie being "produced" aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. McNair’s name tag ("Cecil B. McNair") and beret and slate are all humorous props for application of a serious piece of cargo on this eight day flight - the Cinema 360 camera. Two of the cameras were carried aboard the Challenger to provide a test for motion picture photography in a unique format designed especially for planetarium viewing. This camera was located in the crew cabin area and a second was stowed in a getaway special (GAS) canister in the payload bay. The other camera recorded extravehicular activity (EVA) of the flight’s other two mission specialists, Astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart.

S84-43432 (11 Oct. 1984) --- Appearing small in the center background of this image, astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and David C. Leestma, both 41-G mission specialists, perform an in-space simulation of refueling another spacecraft in orbit. Their station on the space shuttle Challenger is the orbital refueling system (ORS), positioned on the mission peculiar support structure (MPR ESS). The Large Format Camera (LFC) is left of the two mission specialists. In the left foreground is the antenna for the shuttle imaging radar (SIR-B) system onboard. The Canadian-built remote manipulator system (RMS) is positioned to allow close-up recording capability of the busy scene. A 50mm lens on a 70mm camera was used to photograph this scene. Photo credit: NASA

S84-27017 (7 Feb. 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, one of two 41-B mission specialist, participating in a historical Extravehicular Activity (EVA), is a few meters away from the cabin of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger in this 70mm frame. This EVA represented the first use of a nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), which allows for much greater mobility than that afforded previous spacewalkers who had to use restrictive tethers. Robert L. Stewart, mission specialist, later tried out the MMU McCandless is using here. The two of them tested another similar unit two days later. Inside the spacecraft were astronauts Vance D. Brand, commander; Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist. Photo credit: NASA