Program Overview
Skylab was the United States’ first space station, developed and operated by NASA during the early 1970s. Designed to explore long-duration human spaceflight and conduct scientific experiments in microgravity, Skylab laid critical groundwork for future orbital laboratories such as the International Space Station (ISS).

Launched in 1973, the program included one uncrewed launch of the space station and three crewed missions. Skylab was a repurposed Saturn V third stage (S-IVB), outfitted with living quarters, laboratories, solar observatories, and life support systems.

Key Milestones
- Skylab Launch (May 14, 1973): The orbital workshop was launched uncrewed atop a Saturn V rocket.
- Skylab 2 (May 25, 1973): First crewed mission; repaired damage from launch and restored full functionality.
- Skylab 3 (July 28, 1973): Conducted extensive scientific experiments and Earth observation.
- Skylab 4 (November 16, 1973): Longest mission of the program; included spacewalks and solar observations.
- Deorbit and Reentry (July 11, 1979): Skylab reentered Earth’s atmosphere after 6 years in orbit, scattering debris over Western Australia.

Capabilities
Skylab featured a pressurized volume of 361 m³ and provided living quarters, food storage, and workspaces for up to three astronauts per mission. Its main scientific components included the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) for solar observation, Earth resources experiments, biomedical studies, and materials science research in microgravity. Power was supplied by solar arrays damaged during launch and later repaired by astronauts.

Achievements
Skylab demonstrated that humans could live and work in space for extended periods, setting endurance records and performing over 300 scientific experiments. The missions provided key insights into human adaptation to microgravity, solar physics, and Earth sciences.

Though plans for reboosting Skylab were never realized due to delays in the Space Shuttle program, its legacy shaped the design of future space habitats and international cooperation in orbital science.

Partners
NASA
Marshall Space Flight Center (station design)
Johnson Space Center (mission operations)
Various U.S. universities and laboratories (scientific experiments)

Launch Site
Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39A (Skylab station)
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39B (crew missions via Saturn IB)

Crewed Missions
Skylab 2: May 25 – June 22, 1973 (28 days)
Skylab 3: July 28 – September 25, 1973 (59 days)
Skylab 4: November 16, 1973 – February 8, 1974 (84 days)

Orbital Details
Altitude: ~435 km (initial)
Inclination: 50°
Total time in orbit: 2,249 days (1973–1979)

Reentry
July 11, 1979
Partial breakup over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia

SKYLAB 1
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
SKYLAB 2
Crew:
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
SKYLAB 3
Crew:
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
SKYLAB 4
Crew:
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.
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