Astronaut Maneuvering Unit for Space Mechanics

In order to give man the capability of extra-vehicular travel while in orbit, various concepts for individual propulsion units have been analyzed. These concepts varied from the hand-held gun to the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU). This paper analyzes the problems with these concepts and shows why the AMU, which is currently under test, is the safest and most reliable method for the orbital travel. Included is a discussion of the future research anticipated, as well as the various applications for the AMU.