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Skylab and Earth Limb

Skylab and Earth Limb


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Skylab and Earth Limb

An overhead view of the Skylab Orbital Workshop in Earth orbit as photographed from the Skylab 4 Command and Service Modules (CSM) during the final fly-around by the CSM before returning home. The space station is contrasted against the pale blue Earth. During launch on May 14, 1973, some 63 seconds into flight, the micrometeor shield on the Orbital Workshop (OWS) experienced a failure that caused it to be caught up in the supersonic air flow during ascent. This ripped the shield from the OWS and damaged the tie downs that secured one of the solar array systems. Complete loss of one of the solar arrays happened at 593 seconds when the exhaust plume from the S-IIs separation rockets impacted the partially deployed solar array system. Without the micrometeoroid shield that was to protect against solar heating as well, temperatures inside the OWS rose to 126 degrees fahrenheit. The gold " parasol" clearly visible in the photo, was designed to replace the missing micrometeoroid shield, protecting the workshop against solar heating. The replacement solar shield was deployed by the Skylab I crew. This enabled the Skylab Orbital Workshop to fulfill all its mission objects serving as home to additional crews before being deorbited in 1978

Space Image feature a selection of NASA's incredible imagery

Media ID 635344

© NASA

Apollo Command Service Module Skylab Solar Solar Array


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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the awe-inspiring Skylab Orbital Workshop floating gracefully in Earth's orbit, as captured by the Skylab 4 Command and Service Modules during their final fly-around before returning home. Against the backdrop of a pale blue Earth, this image highlights both the beauty and challenges faced by this pioneering space station. The journey of Skylab was not without its setbacks. Just seconds into its launch on May 14,1973, a failure in the micrometeor shield caused it to be torn away from the Orbital Workshop. This unfortunate incident also damaged one of the solar array systems that were crucial for powering the station. As time passed, another setback occurred when exhaust plume from separation rockets impacted and destroyed a partially deployed solar array system. However, ingenuity prevailed as astronauts aboard Skylab I devised an innovative solution to protect against solar heating: a golden "parasol" seen clearly in this photograph. Deployed successfully, this replacement solar shield allowed temperatures inside the workshop to stabilize at manageable levels after reaching scorching heights of 126 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite these challenges, Skylab fulfilled all its mission objectives flawlessly while serving as home to multiple crews until its eventual deorbiting in 1978. This iconic image serves as a testament to human resilience and determination in conquering adversities encountered beyond our planet's atmosphere.

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