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skylab
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
GEORGE C. MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
an adventure
•
• 1n
science
and
::photograRhy
The significant role of the photographic process on Skylab can
be appreciated when one realizes that nearly one-half of the ex
periments onboard utilize some form of photography to gather
their scientific data. The inherent advantages of returned photo
graphic records, high information density and permanence,
justifies the effort involved with its launch, stowage, and return.
One of the more important aspects of Skylab photography is the
entirely new portion of the spectrum revealed to solar and stellar
astronomers. As shown on the chart below, the experiments of
Skylab embrace wavelengths from Hard X-Rays to the Thermal
Infrared. The areas of Vacuum Ultraviolet and X-Ray studies have
only become feasible through space research because the Earth's
atmosphere filters and scaners these wavelengths.
Skylab Experiment Spectral Coverage
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The camera systems aboard Skylab range from conventional
35mm cameras to exotic systems employing detraction gratings,
articulated mirrors, and photocathodes emitting photoelectrons
to be focused on film. Through the use of these systems and their
films the scope of the studies is extremely broad. They will
return information concerning subjects as varied as the intense
Sun to the faint Zodiacal Light, cloud formations to the mass of
the Universe, and the contamination around the spacecraft to the
contamination of our Earth's atmosphere and rivers.
The films to support these experiments vary from color interior
films, similar to those commercially available, to films highly
sensitive to Far Ultraviolet. The quantity of film involved is
revealed in the fact that there are in excess of 125,000 exposures
in the area of solar astronomy alone.
�Skylab Films
Name
Shon Wave
Radiation
Vacuum UV
RecQfding
Related
Types
SC-5
104-06
101-05
101-06
Size
50 x 70mm
Grus Plates
35mm
Stnp$
$183-Ultrav,olet PanoralT\8
S082A-X/UV Coronal Spectrograph
S0828-UV Corof'l81 Spectr09'3Ph
50 x 70mm
Glass Plates
35mm
Slides
7.5 x 150mm
Suips
Glau Plates
S019-UV Stellar Aurof'lomv
S183-Ultraviolet PanotalTli;I
Spectregraphic
103a-O
16mm
Pan,;nom1c�X
Aerial
3400
3414
S0022
35mm
5 inch
70mm
70mm
70mm
026•02
35mm
S0212
ExPL'f1m8nt Apphcation
S183-Ultrav,olet Pano,ama
Earth Resources
S020-UV/X-Ray Solar Photography
S183-Ultraviolet Panaroma
T025-Coronograph Contam. Meas
S190B-Eanh Terrain Camera
S190A-Multispectral Photographic Facllttv
S054-X Ray Spectrograph1c Telescope
S056-X•Aay Telescope
S052-Wn1te- Light Coronograoh
16mm
35mm
S233-t<ohoutek Photomcu 1c Pho1ography
S191-lnfrared $pactrometer
2403
35mm
35mm
S063-UV Anglow Horizon Photography
T025-Corono graph Contam Meas.
Aerial
Color
S0242
S0356
5 inch
70mm
S1908-Earth Terrain Camera
S190A-Multispectra l PhQtograph1c Camera
Oata
Recordmg
2485
35mrn
S063-UV Auglow Hotizon
T027/S073-GetJensche,n/Zodiaeal Light
S232-Banum Plasma Observation
Ekt.Jchrome
MS (Color)
S0368
35mm
35mm
16mm&
70mm
S063-UV Airglow Horizon
T053 Earth Laser Beacon A$$essment
Operational (E l(lf8Yeh 1cular ActiYity)
Ektaehrome
S0168
16& 35mm
M151 T11-ne and Mo11on Study
M479-Zero G1avHy Flammability
M487-Hab1tab 1 1t1v/Crew Quarters
M509- As1ronaut Maneu,..eung Equipment
M516-Crew Act1111 t1es/Mamtenance
S191-lnfrar&d Spectrometer
T01J-Ctew Vehicle Disturbances
T020-Foo1 Controlled ManeuYeong Unn
T053-Earth Laser Beacon Assenment
Student lnwst1ga11ons
Science Ocmonstrations
Plus-X
Aerial
3401
Tri•X
Aerograph, c
Ef
16& 3 5 m m
35mm
(Oayl19htJ
16, 35&
70mm
Operational F,tm
Solar Flare
Palfol
S0101
35mm
Hydrogen Alpha Telescope
Ektachrome
lr'llfra,ed
(Colorl
2443
3443
S0131
35mm
70mm
35mm
16mm
5 ir,ch
S063-UV A1rglow Hor.zoo
S190A-Mult1spectral Photographic Camera
Operational Film
M479-Zero GraYity Flammab1l1ty
S190B- Earth Terr(lm Camera
2424
70mm
$190A-Mult1spectn1I Photographic Camera
NTB·3
35mm
5201-X/UV Electronograph1 c Camera
lr'llfrared
Aerograph1 c
Nuc1ear
Track
Ma1er1al
The Earth Resources Experiment Package is an integrated system of
s·:msors for earth observations. Detecting electromagnetic radiation,
either reflected or emitted in the Visible through Thermal Infrared wave·
lengths. These sensors provide high resolution data covering widespread
areas of the earth. This data is expected to yield information fundamental
to the use and conservation of our natural resources. Some of the major
d1sciplmes addressed are agriculture, geology, continental water resources,
ocean investigations, and atmospheric investigations.
Exp.
Photog,aph1c Techmque
No.
TIiie
ObjeCll'Ve
S190A
Multi•
SpeCtral
Pho109raph 1c
Camera
Determine the extent
by \M11ch precision and
rep&t1trve Muh 1speccral
from
Photography
space can be applied 10
the Earth Resources
Disc1pl 1nes m the Vis•·
ble and Near IA regions.
Six Channel High Prec1s1on
10mm camera with matched
distortion aoo focal length,
and bore1119hted so that photo
graphs from all six Ci!lmeras
will be accu,ately 1n reg,ster.
Came,as utilize 70mm film
!S0356, S0022. E� 2424 ond
EK 24431 ,n cassettes hold mgapl)roxunately 400 frames
S1908
Earth
Terrain
Camera
Obtain high ,esolut1on
photography 10 assess
techniques in remote
sensing for application
in the use and con•
se,...aoon of natural re•
sources.
Automatic operation for over•
tapping topographic coverage
and manual ooerat1on fo, sin
gle photographs of selected
scer'lles. Camera ut1liies 5 ,neh
S0242, S0131, ond EK 3414
film in canettes of approx1•
mately 450 frames e8ch and
has a ,e$olutton of 37 feet
from an atrnude of 23Snm,.
S192
Mult1Speetr1I
Scanner
Assess
Multisoectral
techniQues for remote
sensing of Eaqh re•
sources.
Spec1f1cally:
Spectral
Signat1.11e
Identification and Map•
ping ol 51tes related to
Agriculture, Forestry,
Geology,
Hydrology,
and Oceanography.
Mechan1eal Optical Scanner
combined 11111th a folded re•
fleeting telescope osed as a
radiation eollector to 9c1ther
high re$Olut1on, quantttati11e
da1a on ,ad1ation reflected and
em,ued by selected test sites
,n thirteen discrete spectral
bands of the Visible, Near IR
and Thermal IA regions. Oata
returneQ on magnetic t�pe is
converted to pictorial repre
sentation
Film Storage
Five aluminum filrn vaults are provid•
ed aboard Skylab to serve as re�sitories
for all experiment photographic film to
reduce radiation exposures of the stored
film to levels consistent with require
ments for acceptable photographic data.
These vaults vary in thickness from 0.5
to 3.4 inches, and the largest weighs
approximately 2250 pounds.
Four of the vaults are used to protect
Apollo Telescope Mount {ATM) solar
astronomy film. and the fifth (IJrgest)
is used to store corollary experiment,
general purpose, land operational films.
In addition, the largest vault contains a
passive humidity control system which
assures a relative humidity of 45 ±: 5 per
cent.
0
�Solar Observations
The Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) serves as the painting base for
eight solar telescopes. These telescopic observations are primarily in
spectral ranges that are obscurecl by the Earth's atmosphere. The high
resolution provided through photographic techniques 1s expected to
greatly e)(pand our understanding of solar behavior and 1n the assessment
of Its impact on our environment. Skylab provides th� first opportunity
to perform long duration, high spectral and special resolution studies of
the Sun ,n the Visible, Ultraviolet, Vacuum Ultrav,o·let: anci
regions
x:Ray
s,multaneously
E,cp.
No
Photographic Te,chnique
S020
Obtain X•Rav/UV spec
tr• of the Sun 1n the
Solar
Photography 10 to 200 ang5trom
wavelength region.
ExPosures
obtained tA1ng
Spectrograph
conta1n1ng a
h'IIOi>lrt grallng, sl,t, f,her.
opt1CBI bores19h1er, and film
drum w11h Kodak 101-06 film.
S052
Wtute
Obtain synopttC photo
Ltght
greph,c data of the
Co,onagraph bflghtneH. form. and
polarization
of the
corona from I 5 to 6
soi.Ir r�u. and observe
assOc,ated
tranrnmts
1A1th
coronal
radlO
bursts
Sun 1s occulted by disks
mounted exurnaltv to a re•
fract1ve teleM::ope Exposures
of 3 durat,ons 11 one clear
and three polartzat1on anglei
Trans,enu are photographed
e1 htgh re1es with no pol; ri•
.Qlt!On ftlters.
F1lrn type IS
Kodak 026.02 Research
Photograph spat.al and
spectral d,stt1but1on of
X Ray en"'mI0I, of the
actH.re and QuIe1 corona
Photogtaph flares, ac•
1,ve regions, coronal
hea1,ngs.and ta,ge-scale
magnetic l,elds
Telescope has comp0und gru
,ng ,nc1denc:e ObJeC:t1ve reflec
tor Spectral data 1s obtitmed
by selec:t,ng 1ransm1u1on f1I•
ten, an ob1ect1ve transm1ss1on
grating or none Film tvoe ,s
Kodak $0212 lunove-rcoa1e-d
type w,th conduc11ve bi,ckmgl
EUV
Photograph 1ma9e1 of
lower
the
coronal
X-Ray emissions
Telescope �s simple grazmg
,nctdence ob1ect1ve reflector
w11h selective 1ransm1ss1on f1I•
ters
Film type u KodaS(
S0212 ( unovercoated 'Nlth
conduc:t1ve backings).
and
$0242 Aenal Color
EUV
Photograph corol'\ill im
agery m the short XUV
10 de1e,m1 ne th•rmal
and ma tenat structure
of the inner corona
Ob1ective focusmg reflec1,ng
grattr'9 disperses images of the
solar disk and corona onto
10-,nc:h strips of 35mm film.
First and second order spectra
are photographed sep1uately
to cover the spectral range,
Film type 1s Kodak 104-06
UV
Photograph line spectra
in the coronal chromo
spher,.: trans111on zone
for studv of the trans
fer of energy into the
corona
Solar image is focuMKi on the
entrance silt {1 x 60 arc•
seconds) of a reflec:t1ve grating
Spectrogreph Spectr•I range
1s achieved by recording f1ot
�nd second ord•rs !oeperately.
E,ght spectra ere recorded on
eight 1 O•inch srnps of 35mm
fllm.
Film type Is Kodak
104-06
SOS•
S056
S082A
S0828
H-a
X Rav
Spec1r
9reph1c
Camerc1
end X�ay
Telescope
Spec:trO•
helio•
griiph
SpectrO•
graph
f<.a
Telescope
Provide reference pho
tography rn the Hydro
gen H-4 ltne with
ground observations
Except for spoce quelif1e9t1on.
the H•a film telescope 1s 1im1lar to Earth-based un1ts. Film
type 1s Kodak $0101,
Stellar Observations
As with solar observations, stellar researc:h is being conduc:ted in the
Ultraviolet. Since these emissions are characteristic of "young" stars, it is
hoped that they will provide ,m,ght to the origins of the universe. Efforts
in mapping the universe have already shown that our galaxie is larger than
previously believed.
Comet Kohoutek presented Skylab with the opportunity to be the
first to.view what may be the key to the origins of our own solar system.
Comets are thought to be pr,moral matter, which in this case has been
sitting at the fringes of our solar system, unaffected by our sun, possibly
since ils beginning.
Exp.
No
Photographic Techmqve
S019
Ultraviolet
Stellar
Astronomy
Obtain moderate and
low resolut1on UVipec•
ua of very ho1 stars,
M,lky Way star ftelds,
gala•ies, etc., 1n the
1300-to 3000,.ngstrom
wa.,,..length reg,on
Exposure$ obta.ned using UV
Spect,ograph attached to an
A.n,culated Mirror System,
emp1oymg 164-frame rnaga
ZIMS of Kodak 101-06 emul
sion mounted on metal plat
tens
S063
UV
Photograph Earth's o
zone layer from above,
m I he 2500· 10 3000angttrom
wavelength
region. and photograph
twilight airglow em1s
s1ons ,n the 2600- 10
6300-engstrom
wave•
length reg,on
Photographs obuuned us.mg
specially designed exper1meni
hardware hnclud1ng a UV
1ransm,n1ve window> ,n con
1unct1on w11h two 35mm
Nikon cameras ut1t1z:1ng Kodak
2485. S0368, 2403. and 2443
Fi lm
Gegensche1n/ Measure the br,ghtnen
and polanzet1on of the
skyglow, and obtain
data on th@ existence
and nature of contam1nant matenal around
the spacecraft
Telemetry ob111n&d with a
photoelectric polarimeter and
also a camera svnem using a
35mm Nik.on
camera and
Kodek 2485 film
$183
Ultravtolet
Panoral'Nt
Obtain color 1nd1ces of
stars end clusters 1n the
1800·.2500·.•nd 3100angstrom �veleo91hs
Exposures obtained us1ngwide
f1 eld-0f•vtew
Spectrograph.
Articulated Mirror System,
and
carrou�ls
containing
slldes of Kodak 101-05, 103&0,
and SC-5.
T025
Corono
graph
Contam,
nat,on
Measure
Detect and Identify
light-scattering proper
ties of small particles,
and prO\lide detailed 1n•
formauon on the verti•
cal d1stnbut1on of o
zone at high altitudes.
Exposures Obtained USHlQ a
canister assembly and 35mm
Ntkon camera with Kodak
3400 and 2403 film
Obte1n
Lyman•Alphe
and 01 imagery of geo
phys,c:al and astrophv
rn:el (come and tail of
comet Kohoutek) tar•
!)ell in the 1050· to
1304-engstrom �ve
length region.
E i.-posures <>btcu nl!(l usa ng en
f/1 SChmldt camera conf 1gu
rat1on with a K8r photocath
Photoelectrons are
ode,
focused onto 35mm Kodak.
S073
Airglow
Hot,zon
Photo•
graphy
G�n•
sc:hein/
Zodiacal
Light
ment
S201
xuv
Electrono•
graphic
NTS-3 Mm.
�At scheduled times and at other moments of opportunity the
Skylab astronauts use general purpose cameras and accessories to
record their performances of certain experiment tasks and to
document specific happenings and conditions. The 35mm and
70mm instruments were procured as slightly modified versions
of the commercially available units. The 16mm camera was
developed for NASA early in the space program.
16MM DATA ACQUISITION CAMERA SYSTEM
Unlike typical movie cameras, the
Skylab Data Acquisition Camera
provides the capability for selecting
independent shutter speeds and
framing rates. Its unique film
magazine and transport mechanism
was developed such that as one
film cassette becomes depleted, it
then serves as the take-up mechan
ism for the next cassette, thus
saving premium space and weight.
The basic, portable camera is 6" x 3.75" x 2.4" in size and weighs
but 2.7 pounds, including a 140-foot film cassette. The DAG
system includes an additional assortment of lenses, remote cables,
and auxiliary lighting, mounting, and extension devices.
The primary application of the 16mm DAC system on Skylab
is directed toward the documentation of crew activities and tasks
of interest ,n crew motion studies, recording of scientific results
of experiments, and the generation of documentaries and demon
strations covering both planned and unplanned crew activities.
Such tasks and activities include events as varied as preparing an
evening meal, performing a complex operation such as manipulat
ing a unique foot-controlled maneuvering unit, or visual inspection
of the Skylab cluster during a fly-around. Over half of all experi
ments requiring such photographic coverage further require the
DAG. A majority of the photography is performed using color
interior film (S0168 Ektachrome ); however, infrared film (3443)
is used to record the results of space manufacturing experiments,
and UV emulsion (103ao) is used during stellar observations.
35MM NIKON CAMERA SYSTEM .........................
The 35mm Camera System consists
of two motorized dnd three manu
ally operated Nikon cameras. These
models are Nikon FTN 35mm re
flex cameras, two having motorized
film advancement mechanisms. Ac
CP.Ssory ;enses include a 55mm f/1.2
visible, a 55mm f/2 UV lens, and
an assortment of wide-angle through
telephoto attachments.
The Nikon cameras are used in
conjunction with approximately
one-third of the experiments requiring photographic records of
scientific data or documentary records of tr.� performances of
scheduled tasks. In addition, the cameras are used to obtain
photographs useful in studies of the Earth's ozone layers, the
horizon airglow in visible and UV light, and the skyglow caused by
sunlight reflections from interplanetary dust (Zodiacal Light).
General
Purpose
Camera ----Systems
70MM HASSELBLAD DATA CAMERA SYSTEM
Two Hasselblad Data Cameras,
slightly modified versions of the
commercial, electric model (500
EL). are used on Skylab. The
camera incorporates a qlass reseau
plate wltt<.h is positioned immedi·
ately in front of the film plate.
This reseau plate causes a pattern
of precision crosses to be placed
on each photograph, which facili
tates photogrammetric utilization
of the photography.
The Hasselblad cameras are used primarily by the astronauts for
handheld photography in support of Skylab's Earth Visual
Observation Program. This program permits the astronaut•
operator to be both sensor and data processor, in that he is free
to make real-time assessments relative to optimum data-gathering
at pre-selected sites, and to identify/pursue alternate sites or other
targets of opportunity. These targets may include such items as
cloud formations, vegetation patterns. water/air contaminants,
volcanic observations, deserts, African drought patterns, geology,
or even cultural patterns.
In addition, the cameras are used to document astronaut
activities and to obtain reference photographs of the Skylab
cluster as each crew departs.
TELEVISION SYSTEM
Two television systems are used frequently on Skylab for
viewing the Sun, the Earth, and a variety of localized internal and
external targets.
For Sun viewing it is possible to display on black and white TV
the information from five Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) cameras
in various wavelengths. The display is monitored routinely by the
crew on two screens at the ATM Control and Display Console.
The display can also be downlinked to scientists on the ground as
a check on the ATM instruments.
A color TV camera on Skylab generates a color signal using a
single tube with a tricolor, rotating filter wheel. Its output
characteristics are compatible with commercial television. The
camera can be fixed-mounted on the optical viewfinder/tracking
system used by the crew to view the Earth, as seen by the Earth
Resources experiments or mounted in various locations by the
crew to televise Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs) and onboard
events, such as meal preparation and eating, science demonstra
tions, and press conferences. A black and white monitor is
mounted on the camera to assist in aiming, focusing, and adjusting
the light level.
Television is broadcast in real-time or recorded on video tape
for later transmission to the ground. In either case, it is down
linked only over selected ground stations.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Skylab Collection
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1973-1979
Relation
A related resource
https://libguides.uah.edu/ld.php?content_id=10578214<br /><br /><a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/80">View the Skylab Collection finding aid on ArchivesSpace</a>
Identifier
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Skylab Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Skylab was the first space station operated by NASA; it was launched without a crew on May 14, 1973. Skylab had three manned missions: Skylab 2, launched May 25, 1973, lasting 28 days, Skylab 3, launched July 28, 1973, lasting 60 days, and Skylab 4, launched November 16, 1973, lasting 84 days. Crews on Skylab conducted a variety of experiments during their missions, including experiments in human physiology, circadian rhythms, solar physics and astronomy, and material sciences. Important earth resources studies were conducting including studies on geology, hurricanes, and land and vegetation patterns.
Two of the more important components for conducting research on Skylab were the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) and the Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP). The ATM was a multi-spectral solar observatory, and NASA’s first full-scale manned astronomical observatory in space. The ATM yielded a significant number of images and provided useful data for understanding our sun. The EREP provided thousands of images of the Earth’s surface in visible, infrared, and microwave spectral regions.
Skylab remained in orbit, unoccupied after the Skylab 4 mission, until July 11, 1973, when the space station reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab#Manned_missions
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_skylab1.html
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-402/ch4.htm
Dublin Core
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Title
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"Skylab: An Adventure in Science and Photography."
Subject
The topic of the resource
Apollo Telescope Mount
Skylab Program
Space photography
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Description
An account of the resource
This leaflet gives an overview of types of film and camera systems being used in photography and observations on Skylab, the first space station launched by the United States.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Skylab Collection
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives, Huntsville, Alabama
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Language
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en
Type
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Leaflets
Text
Identifier
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spc_skyl_000001_000004
Temporal Coverage
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1970-1979
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/20/2326/spc_stnv_000098.pdf
11429fa7166ae47eb73fb9c488840cfd
Dublin Core
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Title
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Saturn V Collection
Relation
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<a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/60" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">View the Saturn V Collection finding aid in ArchivesSpace</a>
Identifier
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Saturn V Collection
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The Saturn V was a three-stage launch vehicle and the rocket that put man on the moon. (Detailed information about the Saturn V's three stages may be found<span> </span><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_first_stage.html">here,<span> </span></a><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_second_stage.html">here,<span> </span></a>and<span> </span><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_third_stage.html">here.</a>) Wernher von Braun led the Saturn V team, serving as chief architect for the rocket.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Saturn V’s greatest claim to fame is the Apollo Program, specifically Apollo 11. Several manned and unmanned missions that tested the rocket preceded the Apollo 11 launch. Apollo 11 was the United States’ ultimate victory in the space race with the Soviet Union; the spacecraft successfully landed on the moon, and its crew members were the first men in history to set foot on Earth’s rocky satellite.</p>
<p>A Saturn V rocket also put Skylab into orbit in 1973. A total of 15 Saturn Vs were built, but only 13 of those were used.</p>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
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spc_stnv_000098
Title
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"Apollo Telescope Mount Fact Sheet."
Creator
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George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Public Affairs Office.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1968-03-01
Subject
The topic of the resource
Apollo telescope mount
Manned orbital telescopes
Orbiting solar observatories
Project Apollo (U.S.)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Saturn V Collection
Box 26, Folder 3
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
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en
Rights
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spc_stnv_000075_000118
Is Referenced By
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http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/archival_objects/17850
Description
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This fact sheet contains information related to the Apollo Telescope Mount, or ATM, which allows scientists to look at the activity of the sun through the fogging effects of the earth's atmosphere.
Temporal Coverage
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1960-1969
Type
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Documents
Still Image
Text
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/20/10690/Presrelenasastar_101507093415.pdf
8fbfcded70863b9148443ef02d352dfa
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Title
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Saturn V Collection
Relation
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<a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/60" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">View the Saturn V Collection finding aid in ArchivesSpace</a>
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Saturn V Collection
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The Saturn V was a three-stage launch vehicle and the rocket that put man on the moon. (Detailed information about the Saturn V's three stages may be found<span> </span><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_first_stage.html">here,<span> </span></a><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_second_stage.html">here,<span> </span></a>and<span> </span><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/rocketpark/saturn_v_third_stage.html">here.</a>) Wernher von Braun led the Saturn V team, serving as chief architect for the rocket.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Saturn V’s greatest claim to fame is the Apollo Program, specifically Apollo 11. Several manned and unmanned missions that tested the rocket preceded the Apollo 11 launch. Apollo 11 was the United States’ ultimate victory in the space race with the Soviet Union; the spacecraft successfully landed on the moon, and its crew members were the first men in history to set foot on Earth’s rocky satellite.</p>
<p>A Saturn V rocket also put Skylab into orbit in 1973. A total of 15 Saturn Vs were built, but only 13 of those were used.</p>
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Identifier
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Presrelenasastar_101507093415.pdf
spc_stnv_000612
Title
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"Press release : NASA starts development on ATM."
Description
An account of the resource
Press release describing NASA's plans to begin manned missions set to begin in 1968.
Creator
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Date
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1966-08-29
Temporal Coverage
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1960-1969
Subject
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Saturn project
Apollo project
Orbiting solar observatories
Apollo telescope mount
Manned orbital telescopes
Type
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Text
Press Releases
Source
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Saturn V Collection
Box 18, Folder 25
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
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en
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
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spc_stnv_000600_000624
Is Referenced By
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http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/archival_objects/17519
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/199/14370/sdsp_skyl_000023.jpg
711db679e49e1670d1a5923b39a24ce5
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Title
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Richard Heckman Collection
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Identifier
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sdsp_skyl_000023
Title
A name given to the resource
Skylab Sticker, Cartoon Telescope Mount.
Creator
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Publishers Hall Syndicate. Hart
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1970
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970-1979
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skylab Program
Apollo Telescope Mount
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Stickers
Still Image
Source
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Richard Heckman Collection
Box 2, Folder 8
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
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en
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
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Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/53/14373/sdsp_skyl_000028-000028.pdf
40ceaae72fe42f66294974f091fde373
PDF Text
Text
��
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Title
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Werner Sieber Collection
Identifier
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Werner Sieber Collection
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Werner Hans Sieber (March 27, 1912 to April 3, 1995) was a guided missiles expert during WWII (Wade). He received his education from Technical University, Hanover (Lundquist). Sieber was taken to the United States through Operation Paperclip, where he joined von Braun's Rocket Team. By 1960, [Sieber was the] “Head of Measuring Consoles and Instrumentation Division, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Test Division, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center" (Wade). “In the February 1969 MSFC Directory (five months before the first lunar landing) he is listed as Chief of the Test Instrumentation and Control Division of the Test Laboratory” (Lundquist).</p>
<p></p>
<p>Sources:<br />Lundquist, Charles. "Transplanted Rocket Pioneers," 2015.<br /><br />Wade, Mark. "Sieber, Werner." <em>Encyclopedia Astronautica</em>, <a href="http://www.astronautix.com/s/sieber.html">http://www.astronautix.com/s/sieber.html</a>.</p>
Relation
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<a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/150">View the Werner Sieber Collection finding aid on ArchivesSpace</a>
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Identifier
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sdsp_skyl_000028-000028
Title
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"ASTRONAUT GARRIOTT PERFORMS SKYLAB 3 EVA."
Creator
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United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1973
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970-1979
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skylab Program
Extravehicular mobility units
Garriott, Owen K.
Experimentation
Apollo Telescope Mount
Skylab 1
Skylab 3
Lousma, Jack R.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Color Photographs
Still Image
Source
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Werner Sieber Collection
Box 7, Folder 43
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
A language of the resource
en
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
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Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/21/14374/sdsp_skyl_000029-000031.pdf
753c03061d39b3aafbe67eccc35f9cda
PDF Text
Text
���
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Title
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Skylab Collection
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1973-1979
Relation
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https://libguides.uah.edu/ld.php?content_id=10578214<br /><br /><a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/80">View the Skylab Collection finding aid on ArchivesSpace</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Skylab Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Skylab was the first space station operated by NASA; it was launched without a crew on May 14, 1973. Skylab had three manned missions: Skylab 2, launched May 25, 1973, lasting 28 days, Skylab 3, launched July 28, 1973, lasting 60 days, and Skylab 4, launched November 16, 1973, lasting 84 days. Crews on Skylab conducted a variety of experiments during their missions, including experiments in human physiology, circadian rhythms, solar physics and astronomy, and material sciences. Important earth resources studies were conducting including studies on geology, hurricanes, and land and vegetation patterns.
Two of the more important components for conducting research on Skylab were the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) and the Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP). The ATM was a multi-spectral solar observatory, and NASA’s first full-scale manned astronomical observatory in space. The ATM yielded a significant number of images and provided useful data for understanding our sun. The EREP provided thousands of images of the Earth’s surface in visible, infrared, and microwave spectral regions.
Skylab remained in orbit, unoccupied after the Skylab 4 mission, until July 11, 1973, when the space station reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab#Manned_missions
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_skylab1.html
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-402/ch4.htm
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Identifier
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sdsp_skyl_000029-000031
Title
A name given to the resource
Skylab Reuse Diagrams.
Description
An account of the resource
These diagrams depict potential options for reuse of the Skylab habitat for the Space Shuttle program.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970-1979
Subject
The topic of the resource
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Skylab Program
Space habitats
Apollo Telescope Mount
Multiple docking adapters
Spacelab
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Diagrams
Still Image
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Skylab Collection
Box 16, Folder 4
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
A language of the resource
en
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
A related resource
Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/21/14375/sdsp_skyl_000032-000034.pdf
8f517d913bde939871c45309f649758d
PDF Text
Text
���
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Title
A name given to the resource
Skylab Collection
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1973-1979
Relation
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https://libguides.uah.edu/ld.php?content_id=10578214<br /><br /><a href="http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/80">View the Skylab Collection finding aid on ArchivesSpace</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Skylab Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Skylab was the first space station operated by NASA; it was launched without a crew on May 14, 1973. Skylab had three manned missions: Skylab 2, launched May 25, 1973, lasting 28 days, Skylab 3, launched July 28, 1973, lasting 60 days, and Skylab 4, launched November 16, 1973, lasting 84 days. Crews on Skylab conducted a variety of experiments during their missions, including experiments in human physiology, circadian rhythms, solar physics and astronomy, and material sciences. Important earth resources studies were conducting including studies on geology, hurricanes, and land and vegetation patterns.
Two of the more important components for conducting research on Skylab were the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) and the Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP). The ATM was a multi-spectral solar observatory, and NASA’s first full-scale manned astronomical observatory in space. The ATM yielded a significant number of images and provided useful data for understanding our sun. The EREP provided thousands of images of the Earth’s surface in visible, infrared, and microwave spectral regions.
Skylab remained in orbit, unoccupied after the Skylab 4 mission, until July 11, 1973, when the space station reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab#Manned_missions
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_skylab1.html
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-402/ch4.htm
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Identifier
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sdsp_skyl_000032-000034
Title
A name given to the resource
NASA Announcement of Plans to Launch First Orbital Workshop.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1969-07-22
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1965-1970
Subject
The topic of the resource
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Public Affairs Office
Skylab Program
Apollo applications program
Spent Stage Workshop
Space habitats
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Apollo Telescope Mount
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Memorandums
Text
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Skylab Collection
Box 16, Folder 4
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
A language of the resource
en
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
A related resource
Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/69/14376/sdsp_skyl_000035_001.pdf
ad303b3af8a2bcb674d675021d65a4fd
PDF Text
Text
�����
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sdsp_skyl_000035
Title
A name given to the resource
"Skylab" Poster.
Description
An account of the resource
This poster is a comprehensive depiction of the Skylab space habitat as a whole, as well as a general summary of the Skylab program as a whole, including descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of the organizations involved in the Skylab program.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Martin Marietta Corporation
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1970-06-01
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970-1979
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skylab Program
Saturn launch vehicles
Apollo Telescope Mount
Space habitats
Multiple docking adapters
Airlock modules
Experimentation
Skylab 1
Earth Resources Program
Human factors in engineering design
Extravehicular mobility units
United States. Office of Manned Space Flight
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Manned Spacecraft Center (U.S.)
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Posters
Still Image
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Robert McBrayer Collection
Box 7, Folder 10
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
A language of the resource
en
Rights
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
A related resource
Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/69/14383/sdsp_skyl_000046-000047.pdf
c410894513eb5265c79ecb79fa03dd3e
PDF Text
Text
��
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sdsp_skyl_000046-000047
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph "Prime Crew of Third Manned SKYLAB Mission."
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1973
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970-1979
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skylab Program
Skylab 4
Carr, Gerald P.
Gibson, Edward G.
Pogue, William R.
Apollo Telescope Mount
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Color Photographs
Still Image
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Robert McBrayer Collection
Box 7, Folder 7
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
A language of the resource
en
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
A related resource
Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary
-
http://libarchstor2.uah.edu/digitalcollections/files/original/69/14385/sdsp_skyl_000050_001.pdf
c19a71b265863863e21fecf3301738f7
PDF Text
Text
•mission
're/art
MR-13
NATIONAL B AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
"Man Still Matters"-The Story of The First Skylab Mission
"I guess the way I could summarize this project is that it proves
that man still matters. . . . You have made us all very proud with the
way you handled some difficult problems in this project."
—President Richard M. Nixon in a radio telephone conversation with the
orbiting Skylab astronauts on June 18, 1973.
The first Skylab mission, epitomized above by the
President, dramatized the fact that man working in
combination with automated instruments can far
more fully explore and utilize space for world bene
fit than either can alone.
Skylab 1—which includes the Orbital Workshop
(OWS) where men live and conduct experiments,
the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) which is a solar
observatory, and related docking, airlock, and elec
tronic components—was launched at 1:31 p.m.
EDT, May 14, 1973. About a minute after launch,
an 800-pound meteoroid shield was torn from the
OWS, ripping away one OWS solar wing and jam
ming the other so that it could not operate or open
properly. Solar wings have arrays of silicon solar
cells that convert sunlight to electricity for powering
spacecraft and their experiments. Without the OWS
wings, Skylab's available power supply was cut in
half.
The power loss was but one of the major problems
confronting Skylab. Equally serious was the loss of
the shield.
The purpose of the cylindrical shield was two-fold.
Without the .025-inch thin aluminum shield, Skylab
is directly exposed to microscopic dust particles
that could make tiny punctures in its walls. How
ever, engineers believe Skylab's pressurization sys
tem can readily compensate for such circumstances.
More important, the shield was painted to ward
off much of the Sun's heat and keep the OWS cool.
Its absence caused temperatures inside the OWS to
rise ominously, threatening to spoil the food, medi
cines, and photographic film stowed on board at
launch. Skylab's outside skin temperatures reached
nearly 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Short of power and
too hot for prolonged habitation, Skylab had all the
hallmarks of a failure. It was saved by the dedicated
and tireless efforts of the first Skylab crew—Capt.
Charles Conrad, Jr.; Commander Joseph P. Kerwin,
and Commander Paul J. Weitz—and NASA and in
dustry ground personnel.
The Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) and its solar
panels had properly extended. With this power,
ground controllers were able to operate Skylab.
After a number of maneuvers to decrease the crit
ical internal temperatures, Skylab was stabilized to
both illuminate the ATM panels (for power) and to
reduce direct sunlight on the OWS. The results:
• Internal temperatures were stabilized at 125 de
grees Fahrenheit, which was still too hot for nor
mal habitation.
• Power levels were about 2800 watts, enough for
unmanned operation.
• Skylab was oriented with a 45-50 degree pitch-up
(nose-up) attitude for which it was not designed.
To maintain this orientation put serious strain on
Skylab's supply of nitrogen gas maneuvering fuel.
• Skylab could not be oriented to point the ATM
at the Sun because of temperature increases nor
to aim Earth resources instruments at the ground
because this would reduce sunlight on the ATM
solar panels and drain the batteries.
• Beta angles—the angles between the Sun and
Skylab's orbit—were moving in a way to drive
OWS temperatures up again.
NASA and industry personnel pitched in offering a
1
�View of damaged Skylab workshop, showing
unshielded area where parasol was later deployed.
Jammed solar wing is at lower right.
2
�wide variety of ideas for a makeshift sun shield.
These were trimmed to three that were fabricated.
The three went along with Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz
when the astronauts were launched on May 25 In
an attempt to save their mission and the Skylab
program. The astronauts also carried other care
fully selected tools, including bolt cutters, a bending
tool (boat hook), tin snips and food and drugs to
replace those believed already spoiled by the heat.
Launched at 9 a.m. EDT, the crew rendezvoi/sed with
the space station at 4:30 p.m. EDT. They reconnoitered: maneuvering around the station, inspect
ing the damage, and telecasting these observations
to Earth.
Then, they soft-docked—partially attached their
modified Apollo Command/Service module (CSM)
spacecraft, called Skylab 2, to Skylab 1—while they
made preparations for standing up in Skylab 2 and
attempting to free the jammed soiar panel. Later,
they undocked Skylab 2, maneuvered it to the
jammed solar panel, and attempted unsuccessfully
to free it.
Two problems were responsible for their failure:
the aluminum strip from the meteoroid shield that
had twisted around the wing was held fast by a bolt
that had deeply penetrated the wing; and the slope
of the solar wing was such that the available tools
could not adequately grip it. Ascertaining the prob
lem, however, proved to be the first step toward its
eventual solution.
When the astronauts returned to the Skylab 1
docking port, they encountered a balky mechanism
which foiled four docking attempts.
On their fifth try, using a planned back-up tech
nique, they achieved a hard dock—full attachment—
sealing their CSM to the station. The time was
11:50 p.m. The crew spent the remainder of the
night in their docked CSM. (Later, they repaired the
docking mechanism.)
The next day, they entered and prepared to erect
a sun shield over the OWS. They had three ap
proaches, of which the prime (preferred) one was
a parasol erected from inside the station through
an airlock originally intended for solar-oriented sci
entific expermients. The parasol was the least diffi
cult means to deploy. Using procedures conceived
just two days earlier, the crew made a boom com
posed of five rods screwed end to end at the top
of which was a folded shade. They poked this boom
through the airlock. When the boom was out far
enough, the sunshade was opened. The shade was
designed to cover an area 22 x 24 feet, but it had
a few wrinkles. Still it covered about 90 percent of
the meteoroid shield area and brought inside tem
peratures gradually down. In about 11 days, the
Inside temperature was a comfortable 75 degrees.
Skylab 2/Saturn IB takes off with
Astronauts Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz.
The other techniques were to be used if debris
blocked the scientific airlock through which the
parasol was poked. In one, the astronauts would
stand in the open hatch of their command module
and unroll a trapezoidal awning from the bottom,
or far end, of Skylab to the handrail of the ATM. The
narrow end of the awning would be toward the ATM.
3
�Close-up of jammed solar
wing, showing aluminum
strapping that held it.
SATURN WORKSHOP LAUNCH CONFIGURATION
APOLLO
TELESCOPE
MOUNT
SECOND
in*
MULTIPLE
DOCKING
ADAPTER
AIRLOCK
MODULE
OWS
Skylab workshop showing
principal components.
In the other, two astronauts would step from an
airlock in the airlock module, affix a special bracket
to the outside wall, and attach two long poles to the
bracket, pointing them toward the bottom of he Skylab. At the ends of the poles are pulleys with rope
threaded through them. A V-shaped sheet of re
flecting material would be hoisted like an inverted
sail toward the bottom of Skylab.
Immediately after parasol deployment, the crew
activated the OWS and began their planned scien
tific experiments. They succeeded in making up
time lost more or less but were plagued by a worsen
4
ORBITAL
WORKSHOP
(MODIFIED S-IVB STAGE]
ing shortage of electric power. Four batteries in the
ATM that were overheated in the pitch-up attitude
when ground controllers tried to balance OWS tem
peratures and ATM solar panel illumination (see
above) tripped out prematurely (at 50 percent rather
than 20 percent of full charge). Another battery
dropped off the line completely. Because of the
power shortage, the astronauts had to cut back sub
stantially on such important experiments as Earth
survey and solar studies.
NASA officials were well aware of the difficulties
and dangers (oart'cu'arly where sharp edges might
�Repaired Skylab with parasol sunshade and extended solar wing.
exist) of a spacewalk (extravehicular activity, or
EVA). Moreover, the section of Skylab where the
jammed solar panel was located was never designed
for spacewalking. It had neither handrails nor foot
holds to serve as anchors to offset forces imposed
by an astronaut's work. But officials were confident
that a well planned and carefully executed EVA
could be successfully carried out despite these hin
drances.
Ways and tools to loosen the panel were tested
In the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, the underwater
replica of Skylab, at the Marshall Space Flight Cen
ter, Huntsville, Ala. The buoyancy of the water simu
lates to some extent the weightlessness of space.
Later Conrad, Kerwin, ana Weitz practiced the pro
cedures inside the OWS.
Then, on June 7, 1973, Conrad and Kerwin spent
nearly four hours in the most difficult and daring of
all orbital repair jobs. First, they assembled a 25foot pole with a bolt cutter at one end. A tether, or
lanyard, was fashioned to work the blades of the bolt
cutter. While Conrad held the po'e out from the
side of the airlock module, Kerwin climbed onto the
struts of the ATM. He took the pole from Conrad
5
�Conrad takes advantage of zero
gravity to facilitate mouth
and throat examination by
Kerwin, who is an M.D.
and fastened one end with a tether to the struts.
This job was done while on Earth's night side
under Skylab floodlights. At orbital sunrise, Conrad
maneuvered the pole to clamp the bolt cutters on
the aluminum strip holding the solar panel. Then
Conrad moved hand over hand along the pole to
the solar wing. Tethers were run along the pole
between the ATM struts and the solar wing.
While Conrad held the bolt cutters on the alum
inum strip, Kerwin pulled on the other end of the
lanyard to snap the blades shut and sever the strip.
They then attached a tether about half-way down
on the solar panel, tied the rope to the ATM struts,
and stood up under the rope. The tension thus ap
plied to the solar wing broke loose a s'uck bracket
that still held the wing, permitting the wing to swing
out and finally lock into place.
The panels of the wing were not yet fully deployed
because the hydraulic fluid needed to drive them
into position was frozen. When Conrad and Kerwin
were safely back inside of the space station, Mis
sion Control in Houston pitched Skylab upward
again to direct sunlight on the fluid mechanism.
Shortly, the panels fully deployed, adding approxi
mately 3000 watts of desperately needed electricity
to Skylab's power. The surge of power also began
to charge eight batteries that had been useless.
In addition, the Skylab "We fix anything crew,"
as they jokingly called themselves, repaired a num
ber of other malfunctioning instruments. Among
them: a jammed gear mechanism for driving an ultra
violet telescope, a balky tape recorder, a battery not
producing power because of a stuck contact in its
regulator (Conrad hit it with a hammer), and a nonoperating valves in the cooling system.
Thus, human intelligence, and ability to meet un
anticipated situations enabled the first Skylab mis
sion to carry out nearly all of its planned scientific
6
and technical experiments.
Although NASA has for years studied the Sun with
automated Orbiting Solar Observatories, its more
than 30,000 solar pictures from the four-week Skylab
mission have been described by physicists as ex
ceeding their wildest expectations.
One of the discoveries from these pictures is that
the Sun's corona is much more dynamic, or change
able, than many scientists believed. The corona is
the Sun's outer atmosphere which extends millions
of kilometers into space. Its dynamic behavior is
believed due to interactions of its ionized (electri
fied) gases with the solar magnetic field.
On June 15, automatic instruments on Skylab re
ported a moderately strong solar flare—a sudden
outburst of matter from the Sun. Immediately the
astronauts directed the ATM instruments toward and
zeroed them in on the flare, making the best sequen
tial observations yet of this kind of phenomenon.
The flare released as much energy as mankind uses
in decades. Science still does not understand how
energy is accumulated and released in a flare. Skylab's solar studies will contribute to unravelling this
mystery and perhaps to the solution of potential
energy shortages on Earth.
Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz also brought back
more than 7000 scientific pictures of Earth. The
pictures are in demand by industry, agriculture,
weather services, city planners, ecologists, fishing
companies, prospectors, mapmakers, dam-builders,
and many others concerned with Earths' resources
and environment. They cover 31 states and six other
countries.
Among the most crucial of Skylab experiments
are those about man himself: how he responds and
adapts to weightlessness in prolonged space flight.
The outcome will not only bear significantly on plan
ning for future flights but also add to knowledge
�Conrad smiles after washing
in Skylab shower facility.
Before washing, the astronaut
pulls the curtain from the
floor and attaches it to the
ceiling. Water is drawn off by a
vacuum cleaner. (If water
escaped, it would float
around.)
Weitz at control and display,
panel of ATM.
about bodily functions. Such additional knowledge
may aid future doctors in fighting human illness.
During the first Skylab mission, as well as the
earlier Mercury and Gemini manned Earth orbital
flights and the Apollo lunar explorations expeditions,
many changes in astronaut bodily systems occurred.
Among these were losses in muscular tissue, bone
calcium, red blood cell mass, and other fluids and
weakening of the cardiovascular (heart and circula
tory) system—generally those bodily elements and
systems that on Earth must cope with the pull of
gravity. Scientists want to know whether these ef
fects level off in prolonged space flight or, if not,
plan to develop measures to counteract them.
They also want more information on how man
adapts to work in space. The first Skylab mission
indicated man can adjust rapidly to zero gravity, or
weightlessness. Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz became
so proficient that ground personnel had to increase
their planned workload to keep them fully occupied.
None of the three experienced space sickness
(as did some astronauts on previous shorter space
missions and the crew of Skylab 3 early in its 59-day
mission that began July 28, 1973). Even when they
were spun at 30 revolutions per minute in a rotating
chair on Skylab, they did not get motion sickness.
7
�Part of New England from Skylab. Note Cape Cod
peninsula at right; Long Island, lower left.
They could tolerate only half that speed on the
ground.
Another significant finding of Skylab is that ade
quate well designed body restraints are necessary
for men to perform efficiently in space. In another
area, the men advised that tomatoes should be small
enough to be eaten whole and that salt sprinkled
on food bounces off.
Because the body does not have to work as hard
In the zero gravity of space as on Earth, scientists
were concerned about the deconditioning of the
astronauts as a result of their long mission. Because
of this, they wanted to examine them and their in
flight specimens of frozen urine, freeze-dried blood,
and other materials as soon as possible after re
covery. They also wished to avoid possible contami
nation of the specimens by the warm, moist sea air.
As a result, plans were made to pick up the retuning spacemen and Skylab 2 together rather than
their leaving their spacecraft in the water and climb
ing aboard a helicopter as in previous space mis
sions, such as Apollo.
Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz splashed down in the
Pacific about 1344 kilometers (840 miles) southwest
of San Diego, Calif., at 9:50 a.m. EDT, June 22, 1973,
aftre 28 days and 50 minutes of space flight. At
10:34 a.m., they emerged from their spacecraft,
which had been hoisted to the deck of the recovery
ship, U.S.S. Ticonderoga.
All three astronauts stepped unsurely onto the
Conrad and Weitz receive cheers after stepping
from their Apollo command module onto the
recovery vessel, Ticonderoga. Kerwin, in back
ground, is emerging from module.
carrier deck. The effects they experienced are
comparable to standing up after a long period in
bed.
They wore pressure pants to counteract, if neces
sary, orthostatic hypertension, a precipitous drop
in blood pressure that could cause them to faint.
As a further precaution, they also lay back on their
couches after splashdown. Orthostatic hypertension
would result from the inability of the cardiovascular
system to fight gravity and push blood up from the
lower extremities. Pooling of blood in the legs has
been a common reaction in returning spacemen.
Kerwin was the only astronaut who felt sufficiently
faint to inflate his pressure pants.
As most of their predecessors, all three astro
nauts lost weight during their 4-week flight: Conrad,
nearly 4 pounds; Kerwin, 6V2; and Weitz, about 8.
In other ways too, the first Skylab crew, like all
peoole. showed individual variations in their re
sponses to the 28-day space flight.
The first Skylab mission, in addition to providing
a wealth of scientific, medical and technical data,
set a new record for the longest manned space flight.
Just as and perhaps more important, it made pos
sible and laid a foundation for the two longer Skylab
missions scheduled to follow it.
8
GPO 870-932
�
Dublin Core
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Identifier
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sdsp_skyl_000050
Title
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NASA "m!ssion report 'Man Still Matters' - The Story of The First Skylab Mission."
Description
An account of the resource
This article describes the scientific importance of the Skylab missions, and specifically focuses on the importance of having the Skylab program be a manned series of missions, as opposed to unmanned.
Creator
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United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Temporal Coverage
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1970-1979
Subject
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Skylab Program
Skylab 1
Space habitats
Apollo Telescope Mount
Conrad, Charles, Jr.
Kerwin, Joseph P.
Weitz, Paul J.
Skylab 2
Earth Resources Program
Human factors in engineering design
Experimentation
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Articles
Text
Source
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Robert McBrayer Collection
Box 7, Folder 7
University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections, Huntsville, Alabama
Language
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en
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This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.
Relation
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Skylab Document Scanning Project Metadata
Skylab 50th Anniversary