This footage is from NASA’s STS-51-A space shuttle mission in 1984. During this mission, astronauts deployed two satellites—and remarkably, retrieved two others that had been stranded in the wrong orbit. 🚀 The satellite shown here is Westar 6, which was brought back to Earth, sold, and later re-launched in 1990—a rare and impressive feat in spaceflight history. | The Galactic Void

STS-35 Mission Highlights Resource Tape

In February 1984, astronaut Dale Gardner performed a daring space rescue during the STS-51-A mission. Using only a nitrogen-powered backpack, he floated untethered in the vacuum of space to recover the spinning Westar VI satellite—by hand. No ropes. No safety line. Just pure skill and calm under pressure. This incredible photo shows Gardner completely free-floating above Earth, proving just how bold and capable human spaceflight can be. A historic moment of courage and control in the most extrem