Shuttle astronaut with Solar Maximum Satellite, 1984.

During Shuttle mision 41-C, launched on 6th April 1984, astronauts George Nelson and James van Hoften captured the Solar Maximum Satellite that had failed in orbit four years before, taking it back to Challenger where they repaired and released it again. This was the first repair of a satellite in space. The astronaut is shown in the open cargo bay of the Shuttle attached to the robot arm, working on the satellite. The Remote Manoeuvering System (RMS) or robot arm was developed by the Canadian government and has proved crucial to the succes of many Shuttle misions due to its versatility and accuracy.