Why did NASA keep astronauts in Skylab for such extended periods of time?

Skylab’s story began more than a full decade earlier. To perform the scientific tasks envisioned for Skylab, skilled astronauts would have to live and work in a well-equipped scientific laboratory for long periods of time, and be essentially independent of the need for frequent resupply.

What went wrong with Skylab?

Unable to be re-boosted by the Space Shuttle, which was not ready until 1981, Skylab’s orbit decayed, and it disintegrated in the atmosphere on July 11, 1979, scattering debris across the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.

Was there a mutiny on Skylab?

After a thorough review of the available evidence, it is clear that no strike or mutiny took place during the Skylab 4 mission. The astronauts and ground controllers resolved crew scheduling issues during an inflight operations conference, dramatically improving the crew’s effectiveness and performance.

Where is the Skylab now?

After hosting rotating astronaut crews from 1973-1974, the Skylab space station eventually fell back to Earth in pieces that landed in Australia. Now, decades later, many of those pieces are on display at Australian museums, offering a fascinating glimpse into America’s first stab at living in space.

What happened to Skylab after it was launched?

Completion and launch. Skylab was launched on May 14, 1973 by the modified Saturn V. The launch is sometimes referred to as Skylab 1, or SL-1. Severe damage was sustained during launch and deployment, including the loss of the station’s micrometeoroid shield/sun shade and one of its main solar panels.

What happened during Skylab’s reentry into Earth’s atmosphere?

Skylab’s atmospheric reentry began on July 11, 1979, amid worldwide media attention. Before re-entry, NASA ground controllers tried to adjust Skylab’s orbit to minimize the risk of debris landing in populated areas, targeting the south Indian Ocean, which was partially successful.

What happened to the Apollo 12 stage?

Further circumstantial evidence suggests that this object is in fact the Apollo 12 stage, which was left in a very distant Earth orbit after it passed by the Moon on November 18, 1969. This spent rocket body was last seen in an Earth orbit with a period of 43 days, not much different from J002E3’s current orbit.

What makes Apollo 11 so special?

(Image credit: Eugene Cernan/NASA) In retrospect, Apollo 11 was even more exceptional than we thought. NASA put two astronauts on the moon on July 20, 1969, just eight years after President John F. Kennedy announced the audacious goal and a mere 12 years after the dawn of the Space Age.