During STS-2 Columbia, the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (RMS), or Canadarm, was tested for the first time and was successfully operated in all its various operating modes.
During this mission, one of the three fuel cells failed, necessitating the mission to be shortened to two days. These fuel cells produce the electricity for the shuttle and drinking water for the Astronauts. Initially, NASA was going to forego the Canadarm tests. However, Astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly stayed awake during their scheduled sleep period to complete these tests. They were able to complete 90% of the planned objectives during the shortened mission.
In mission control, Sally Ride was the Capsule Communications Operator (CapCom), and was the first woman to be in this position. CapCom is held by an astronaut who communicates with the crew members in their spacecraft from Mission Control. Ride was chosen as Capcom in part because of her experience and skill in using the Canadarm, and she assisted crew in manuevering it.
View from the elbow camera of the aft bulkhead of Columbia and Sally Ride's reaction to the crew's "Hi Mom" sign.
About 19 months later, Sally Ride became the first American female Astronaut to fly into space aboard STS-7 Challenger.
Date: November 13, 1981
NASA documentary about the STS-2 mission: link
NASA ID: STS002-12-833, STS002-13-226, S81-34005, S81-33963
