The ***Official*** Singles Thread: Remembering SkyLab

10 November 2006 | Army Air Corps

[Army Air Corps]

SkyLab

America's First Space Station

Skylab is "cool" for a variety of reasons.  First, it is a manned space exploration subject.  Second, it was a spin-off of the Apollo Programme.  Third, it is an example of how to make the most of what you have on hand.  Also, Skylab is a story of determination and missed opportunities.  In addition, there was a bit of hoopla surrounding Skylab.  There were commemorative medallions, bottles, stamps, and other items.  NASA intended for the Shuttle to operate with Skylab, but the Shuttle programme was about two years behind schedule.  Congressional cuts deprived NASA of the funds to boost Skylab into a higher orbit and replace failing gyroscopes - the station was allowed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on 11 July 1979. 

Skylab Launch: 14 May 1973.  Severe damage was sustained during launch, including the loss of the station's micrometeoroid shield/sun shade and one of its main solar panels. Debris from the lost micrometeoroid shield further complicated matters by pinning the remaining solar panel to the side of the station, preventing its deployment and thus leaving the station with a huge power deficit.

Skylab I: 25 May 1973.  Pete Conrad, Paul Weitz, and Joseph Kerwin.  The station underwent extensive repair during a spacewalk by the first crew.  Lasted 28.03 days.

Skylab II: 28 July 1973.  Alan Bean, Jack Lousma, and Owen Garriott.  Lasted 59.46 days.

Skylab III: 16 November 1973.  Gerald Carr, William Pogue, and Edward Gibson.  Lasted 84.05 days.

The three Skylab Crews                                                                                                                     Skylab Hardware and Facilities

Skylab as it was configured in the launch shroud

A Christmas Tree made by the Skylab Crew

[GOP_Raider]

LOL, glad you at least enjoyed 2/3rds of my photoshop work. I may update it if I get enough motivation to do so, since I had an epiphany that it might be a tad narcissistic to quote myself. :)

[Rca2000]

This is something I find VERY interestinig. And, after a very disappointing week, It is good to have some "breathing space".

Skylab was, IMHO, something that should have been saved. I recall, back when it was getting ready to re-enter, there was talk of sending some kind of "booster package" to the station, to reestablish its proper orbit. Then, something happened(probably ol' peanut man pulled the money for it) and nixed that idea. I am not sure it it was an unmanned vehicle that would dock with the station, or one that was supposed to ride up on the shuttle(which was also a victim of Carter's budget axe, resulting in delays and probably inferior design compromises).

And it is a shame, too-- I remember when it came down-- there was a lot os speculation as to where it would come down, and many people wanted a "piece of it". A few lucky people did get some pieces of the remains after reentry.

Had the station been revitalized, it could have been a vital asset in the '80's and the Reagan era, when Space exploration was given a higher priority. It would have been nice to see a whole new generation of crews in the station, a couple of times a year or more, over several years. Then too-- the technological advancements could have been implemented on Skylab(the electronics on it were late '60's vintage, I doubt it had more total computing power than a 1981 IBM pc-- never mind a modern computer). It could have been retrofitted with better solar panels, and maybe even a nuclear thremopile generator. With regular maintenance and attention--it is quite possible that it could still be up there today-- and actively manned on a regular occasion.

But all of this is just hindsight, and the brilliant Carter administration just allowed it to die.

Just like they did to the military, and the economy of the period.

[Army Air Corps]

What is also tough to find is the patch that the SkyLab Wives devised. The wives worked with a female artist to create a patch that looks like the SkyLab 3 patch but with a woman in place of the Universal Man.

[Army Air Corps]

Yes, I have some of the concept drawings for the booster package as well as the propsal for saving Skylab. The prime contractors for Skylab, NASA, and the three crews beleived that it could be done and with funds available. At the very least, NASA could have boosted it into higher orbit until the Shuttle was "online". The idea was for the first Shuttle flight to be a repair and unpgrade mission (replace gyros, computers, perform repairs to the micrometeoroid shield, etc.). Alas, Congress said, "Nay" and SkyLab was condemed to incineration.

[Army Air Corps]

I am not sure it it was an unmanned vehicle that would dock with the station, or one that was supposed to ride up on the shuttle...

The documents that I have indicate that there were two proposals. One was an automated booster package that could be rocketed to SkyLab and dock with the station. Another plan involved sending a ooster package with the Shuttle.

[Army Air Corps]

Well, there were plans to use Skylab as living quarters and as a storage facility for crews working on the proposed 1980s space station (Space Station Freedom).

I also read a proposal to...attached a booster to Skylab that could send it to the Moon and park it in Lunar orbit! The idea being that it could serve as a base for further moon shots.

Also, the contractors built more than one Skylab. There was the one that was launched, a backup (now in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum), and one for use as a training article. There was a proposal to dock the backup with the Skylab that was in orbit and make one big station.

[Nowhere Man]

Had the station been revitalized, it could have been a vital asset in the '80's and the Reagan era, when Space exploration was given a higher priority. It would have been nice to see a whole new generation of crews in the station, a couple of times a year or more, over several years. Then too-- the technological advancements could have been implemented on Skylab(the electronics on it were late '60's vintage, I doubt it had more total computing power than a 1981 IBM pc-- never mind a modern computer). It could have been retrofitted with better solar panels, and maybe even a nuclear thremopile generator. With regular maintenance and attention--it is quite possible that it could still be up there today-- and actively manned on a regular occasion.

Yeah, it was a bummer that it was wasted. Originally, it was called, "Manned Orbiting Laboritory," and it was supposed to use Gemini capsules to ferry the crews up there. I have some articles on it in some old Popular Science mags from the late 1960's. I dunno how long you could have made Skylab last, maybe up to 1990 or so, but I think it should have been kept up in competition to the Soviet Salyut and MIR stations.

There was a simulation for the Apple ][+ or //e series where you are NASA and control the budget the government gives you. You design and launch the space station, schedule construction and research missions, choose astronauts, payloads, and so on. I have it on an Apple emulator I occasionally use. Very tough game to do. One time I sent up a scientific crew and ran out of money, basically, they just sat up on space for 2 years doing nothing. I was never as good atfinance as I am with the science end of things. I know if I was an astronaut, I'd want to take my Playstation and all Final Fantasy games with me, at least if that happened to me, I could pass the time. B-D

[Army Air Corps]

Sorry, I meant to say that the Skylab wives' patch was similar to the Skylab II patch.

[Rca2000]

SO much money has been wasted on shit over the years-- a bunch of studies about crap that tends to benefit no one-- the government could have put that into a real space program. One that would include another series of Lunar landings a lunar base, and a trip to Mars and beyond with nuclear-ion, or antimatter powered craft.

in fact, I seem to recall someone about 10-15 years ago posing the question in a poll" would you be willing to give ,say 30-50 dollars more in taxes a year, for a revitalized space program, that would include a Lunar base and landing, and a Mars landing, IF you could be guaranteed all of the money would go for the program and not to coffers??"

I think the majority said "yes".

[Army Air Corps]

Think of the money that has been p*ssed-away on useless dreck: grants to universities for "gender studies", welfare fraud, or redundant social programmes. Just cutting fraud in social programmes could result in better funding for NASA.

[DollyCali]

If that is a picture of the snake you provided it is a garder snake.

Yes, it was small & sweet & VERY NON menacing.. but to see my biking companions reaction of NOT getting w/in 20 feet of me & the snake, you would have thought it was a 40 foot boa, that hadn't eaten for a month!

retired 25 year cop & former marine...HA!

well, I have learned re: snakes & reptiles in general, there is a deep seated hate/fear in some people which I suspect if traced back will also be strong in parents of other people of early years of influence

so you are Serbian.. is that where the screen-name comes from?

[DollyCali]

Re: music during study.

My "GUESS" and that is all it is, as someone who tried to learn & get a feel for the mentality there...

there are "quiet hours" of no ALOUD music, loud talk, movies on.. but if you use earphones etc it would be okay.

The young men & women who are there do NOT get there w/o firm, dependable study habits in place for YEARS. For some of them quiet would be necessary & for some music was part of formula & ear phones are okay. but respecting the need for quiet in some, I think the rule of this sort makes sense.

[DollyCali]

I agree with that totally!

We have a fair sized NASA facility here in Cleveland & over the years I have had many friends who were associated with it.

[DollyCali]

Hey, Mr. SINGLE, rocket scientist.. you might enjoy this thread here today

[DollyCali]

I love that story.. there are a few couples that met & are married here at FR that I know of (like Cyborg & Petronski).. and many "couples" at various levels of seriousness (like our singles couple Rock in Right & Hoodlum91).

Our DC FR leader chapter Kristinn met his girlfriend SGSTakoma via activites of FR (for those who might NOT know, Kristinn is currenlty in Iraq with the Gold Star Families)HERE IS HIS MOST RECENT REPORT

I tell you in the dating that I do ... and I am lucky - I know - to do a lot... having the conservative, political mix is VERY important.. to me.

There is a site that a couple of the guys here at the singles thread turned me on to.. called Conservative Match.com.. Interesting. When I get note, interest from one, I can go to their profile page & know VERY quickly if I want to take the time to investigate.

CONSERVATIVE SINGLES

With a lot of criteria listed & RESONSPONSES they put for or against(sanctity of life, porn etc).. quickly tell if there is a match.

At my age & stage I have learned a LOT of things just dont get worked out & better to be careful than sorry

Does anyone know about the singles website: Republican Singles Meet ?

[snugs]

I prefer Absolut vodka to Smirnoff myself

[snugs]

Though knew how to right tight code in those days not the sloppy windows stuff that we have to put up with now.

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

Hey D.C.! Yes, I am! Thanks!

[Nowhere Man]

Though knew how to right tight code in those days not the sloppy windows stuff that we have to put up with now.

I know. I've experienced it a bit myself. I remember my first computer was a TI-99/4A and it only had 16K memory, 14.5 K to use (the computer used 1.5 K for itself as a "scratchpad") or 13.9K for Extended BASIC (extra 600 bytes needed by the computer) so when I programed, I had to watch how much memory I used. There were times I was hitting into the wall of the computer's scratchpad memory so I had to reduce some of my code and find another way to do things. One big problem was where you could get "spaghetti code" where programs with all the "GOTO" and "GOSUB" statements, in time, your program's map would resemble a bowl of spaghetti. Running with 4K of RAM is really, really tight, but Radio Shack (Tandy in the UK and elsewhere, IIRC) did have their TRS-80 run a chess game in 4K. 16K was a lot better, you had a wee bit more breathing room. When I first started to use Appl ][+'s and //e's, the ][+ were standard with 48K of RAM (you can get 64K if you added an 80 column card with 16K extra) or //e with 80 columns and 64K already hardwired into the system so you even had more space but still, there were times I ran out of memory and had to find another way.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Yes, I cannot post my real name due to my job but went with the next best thing. Vukicevich is my mom's maiden name and Dmitry is the name my great-grandmother called me as there are only 12 first names in the Slavic/Russian culture and she called all of us by Russian names.

It is amazing that people are so afraid of snakes. It freaks my friends out when I rescue them from the side of the road. I ask them would you rather have snakes or would you rather have rats and the diseases they carry. I guess it goes back to the Bible and the Garden where God put enmity between the snake and man.

Oh, and garder should = garter.