Skylab

Key facts

Science

Mission

Skylab was the first United States space station, built from a converted Saturn V upper stage and launched on 14 May 1973. The launch nearly ended in disaster: aerodynamic forces tore off the station's micrometeoroid and sun shield and one of its main solar wings, leaving Skylab overheating and starved of power. The first crew, arriving days later, became orbital repairmen — deploying a parasol sunshade through a small airlock to cool the station and freeing the jammed solar wing in a daring spacewalk, salvaging the entire programme. Over 1973 and 1974 three crews lived aboard for up to 84 days, a US endurance record that stood for decades. They ran a large solar observatory that returned unprecedented views of the Sun, studied how the human body adapts to weightlessness, and proved that astronauts could do real, sustained science in orbit. After the last crew left, Skylab was abandoned in a decaying orbit; with the Space Shuttle not yet ready to boost it, it made an uncontrolled re-entry on 11 July 1979, scattering debris across the Indian Ocean and Western Australia in a globally-watched event.

1. 1973Launch and crisisLaunch

   Skylab launches, but loses its sun shield and a main solar wing, leaving it overheating and underpowered.

2. 1973Saved by its first crewMilestone

   Astronauts deploy a parasol sunshade and free the jammed solar wing in a daring spacewalk, rescuing the station.

3. 197484-day record and solar scienceMilestone

   The last crew sets a US endurance record that stands for decades and completes a major study of the Sun.

4. 1979Re-entry over AustraliaMission end

   With no way to boost it, Skylab makes an uncontrolled, globally-watched re-entry.

Images

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