Echoes Among the Stars: The Original Website
The First Era in Space, 1957-1975
Skylab 1
May 14, 1973 - July 12, 1979
Ready for Launch: The Skylab Space Station
The Skylab space station, ready for launch on May 14, 1973. Using recycled Apollo equipment that was discarded when the final three moon landing missions were cancelled, Skylab would convert the third stage of one of the massive Saturn V rockets used to launch lunar missions into a home for astronauts in earth orbit. NASA photo.
A Chaotic Beginning
Skylab suffered an early setback when its meteor shield broke off shortly after launch. The shield was necessary to maintaining a hospitable environment within the station, as were the solar panels designed to supply the lab’s electrical power, one of which had also been rendered inoperable when the shield broke. NASA photo.
A Quick Fix
The Skylab station after the first crew completed repairs, fitting the lab with the ‘parasol’ visible at the top of the photo. The device replaced the missing meteor shield; the astronauts also managed to improvise a solution to the solar panel problem, giving the lab enough energy to function. NASA photo.
