First remote-controlled (RC) arm in space

The Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS), also known as Canadarm 1 (after Canada sponsored its development via Canadian company DSMA Atcon), was a multipurpose, remote-control arm attached to the United States Space Shuttle cargo bay. Its main purpose was manipulating loads in the Space Shuttle cargo bay and grasping satellites for repair while in orbit. It was first used on the Columbia Shuttle mission STS-2 in 1981, launching on 12 November 1981 and landing two days later on 14 November. This flight – only the second ever Shuttle flight – used the arm for testing. The original Canadarm was capable of deploying or retrieving payloads weighing up to 332.5 kg (733 lb) in space, although it was later developed into a larger-capacity remote-controlled system for the International Space Station (ISS).