Figure 1

For many years, the Space Shuttle dominated U.S. commercial space launches. Shown here is the deployment of Syncom IV-4 on August 28, 1985, one of three commercial satellites placed in orbit from the Discovery orbiter. During this same mission, Shuttle astronauts James D. Van Hoften and William F. Fisher spent eleven hours and 27 minutes floating in space outside the Shuttle in a successful attempt to capture, repair, and release a commercial satellite that failed to operate. Courtesy NASA, photo no. 85-H-377.