太阳极大期任务卫星是1980年2月14日发射，用于研究太阳现像，特别是太阳耀斑的卫星。

值得注意的是，为了延长这颗卫星的工作时期，挑战者号航天飞机曾经在1984年将它回收置入货舱中进行维修，然后再放回轨道上。这颗卫星的锚钩在设计时就符合航天飞机的机械臂夹具，所以能够回收进行维修。

出人意料的是，携带的主动空腔辐射显示器（Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor，缩写为ACRIM）发现在太阳黑子最活耀的时期，太阳的光度是增亮而非预期的变暗。因为在太阳黑子周围产生的光斑增加的亮度超过黑子所抵销掉的。

The Solar Maximum Mission satellite (or SolarMax) was designed to investigate Solar phenomena, particularly solar flares. It was launched on February 14, 1980. The SMM was the first satellite based on the Multimission Modular Spacecraft bus manufactured by Fairchild Industries, a platform which was later used for Landsats 4 and 5 as well as the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite.