
SKYLAB 1
Mission Objective
Skylab 1 was the inaugural mission in NASA's Skylab program, tasked with deploying the United States' first space station into low Earth orbit. The primary objectives included placing the orbital workshop into a stable orbit, deploying its solar arrays, and preparing the station for subsequent crewed missions. This mission laid the groundwork for extended human habitation and scientific research in space.
Mission Highlights
Skylab 1 launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on May 14, 1973, at 1:00 p.m. UTC, utilizing the final Saturn V rocket. Shortly after liftoff, the mission encountered significant challenges: the micrometeoroid shield and one of the main solar panels were damaged during ascent, leading to power shortages and thermal control issues. Despite these setbacks, the station achieved orbit, and ground teams devised innovative solutions to address the anomalies, setting the stage for the first crewed mission to conduct in-orbit repairs.
Launch
May 14, 1973; 1:00 p.m. UTC
Launch Pad: Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A
Launch Vehicle: Saturn V SA-513
Orbit
Perigee: Approximately 434 km
Apogee: Approximately 442 km
Inclination: 50°
Orbital Period: 93.4 minutes
Duration
Skylab remained in orbit from May 14, 1973, until its re-entry on July 11, 1979, totaling 2,249 days. During this period, it hosted three crewed missions, contributing significantly to our understanding of long-duration spaceflight.
Re-entry
July 11, 1979
Skylab re-entered Earth's atmosphere, with debris scattering over the Indian Ocean and parts of Western Australia.

SKYLAB 2
Charles C. Conrad Jr., Commander
Paul J. Weitz, Pilot
Joseph Kerwin, Scientist
Launch Date: May 25, 1973
Launch Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Saturn 1B
Launch Site: Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center
Recovery Date: June 22, 1973
Recovery Time: 9:49 a.m. EDT
Distance Traveled: 11.5 million miles
Duration: 28 days, 49 minutes
Mission Highlights
First manned mission. The crew rendezvoused with Skylab on the fifth orbit. After making substantial repairs, including deployment of a parasol sunshade that cooled the inside temperatures to 23.8 degrees C (75 degrees F), the workshop was in full operation by June 4. In orbit, the crew conducted solar astronomy and Earth resources experiments, medical studies and five student experiments. The mission completed 404 orbits and 392 experiment hours, as well as three EVAs totaling six hours, 20 minutes.
Mission Achievements
Installed a solar shield "parasol" from scientific airlock. Released solar array wing on EVA. Doubled previous length of time in space.

SKYLAB 3
Alan L. Bean, Commander
Jack R. Lousma, Pilot
Owen K. Garriott, Scientist
Launch Date: July 28, 1973
Launch Time: 7:11 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Saturn 1B
Launch Site: Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center
Recovery Date: Sept. 25, 1973
Recovery Time: 6:19 p.m. EDT
Distance Traveled: 24.5 million miles
Duration: 59 days, 11 hours, nine minutes
Mission Highlights
Continued maintenance of the space station, and extensive scientific and medical experiments. Completed 858 Earth orbits and 1,081 hours of solar and Earth experiments, as well as three EVAs totaling 13 hours, 43 minutes.
Mission Achievements
Installed a twinpole solar shield on EVA. Performed major in-flight maintenance. Doubled previous length of time in space.

SKYLAB 4
Gerald P. Carr, Commander
William R. Pogue, Pilot
Edward G. Gibson, Scientist
Launch Date: Nov. 16, 1973
Launch Time: 9:01 a.m. EST
Launch Vehicle: Saturn 1B
Launch Site: Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center
Recovery Date: Feb. 8, 1974
Recovery Time: 11:17 a.m. EDT
Distance Traveled: 55.5 million miles
Duration: 84 days, one hour, 16 minutes
Mission Highlights
Last of the Skylab missions that included observation of the comet Kohoutek and numerous experiments. Completed 1,214 Earth orbits and four EVAs totaling 22 hours, 13 minutes.
Mission Achievements
Observed and photographed the comet Kohutek. Increased previous length of time by about 50 percent.