Bruce McCandless IIStatus: Deceased 6/8/1937 – 12/21/2017 Nationality: American Type: Government First Flight: 2/3/1984 Last Flight: 4/24/1990Bruce McCandless II was a U.S. naval officer and aviator, electrical engineer, and NASA astronaut. In 1984, during the first of his two Space Shuttle missions, he made the first untethered free flight by using the Manned Maneuvering Unit.LaunchesSpace Shuttle Challenger / OV-099 | STS-41-BSpace Shuttle Discovery / OV-103 | STS-31National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationType: Government Abbreviation: NASA Administration: Administrator: Jim Bridenstine Founded: 1958 Launchers: Space Shuttle | SLS Spacecraft: Orion Country: USAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.