Laptops were first used in space in 1983 on the Space Shuttle, when Commander John Young brought the GRiD Compass portable computer on STS-9. Laptops are now widely used on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station for tasks like monitoring spacecraft systems, tracking satellites, inventory management, procedures viewing, and videoconferencing. Managing laptops in space presents challenges around cooling, power, and software/hardware compatibility in the harsh space environment.