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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