Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
NASA Skylab
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
1. NASA SKYLAB Marker
Sections of this Skylab mock-up were used at Marshall space Flight Center in the water-filled Neutral Buoyancy Simulator tank. This tank simulates the microgravity conditions of space during training of Skylab astronaut crews.
The space-suited astronaut, Ed Gibson, is performing an extra-vehicular activity (EVA)in front of the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM). The ATM was used by Skylab crews to obtain thousands of solar images that have greatly improved our understanding of Earth's closest star.
Skylab, the United States' first space station, was manned from May 25, 1973 to February 8, 1974 by three separate astronaut crews. Experiments were performed to enrich our knowledge of Earth, Sun, stars and cosmic space; to study the effects of long periods of weightlessness on living organisms (including humans); to develop space processing and manufacturing techniques. Experiments were also performed to develop methods and equipment for observing and monitoring Earth, to aid in solving problems of pollution, erosion, crop failure, storm destruction, and mineral deletion.
Skylab reentered Earth's atmosphere July 11, 1979. During reentry Skylab disintegrated, spraying debris over parts of Australia. One of the largest pieces recovered in on display here at the U. S. Space and Rocket Center. Guest are invited to see and walk through the Skylab located inside the museum.
Built for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Contractors:
McDonnell Douglas Corporation
(Orbital Workshop and Air Lock Module)
Martin Marietta Corporation (Multiple Docking Adapter)
Marshall Space Flight Center (Apollo Telescope Mount) Ball Brothers Research Corporation, Bendix, Honeywell, and Perkin-Elmer designed and manufactured the ATM science instrumentation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these
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Location. 34° 42.592′ N, 86° 39.322′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker can be reached from Tranquility Base, half a mile west of Madison Pike, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. Air Force SM-65 Atlas-F (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S. Army PGM-11 Redstone (about 400 feet away); NASA / U.S. Geological Survey (about 400 feet away); U.S. Army/NASA Juno II (about 400 feet away); Cernan • Evans • Schmitt (about 400 feet away); Young • Mattingly • Duke (about 400 feet away); Scott • Worden • Irwin (about 500 feet away); Shepard • Roosa • Mitchell (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.
Also see . . . U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (Submitted on September 26, 2016.)
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
2. Skylab Program Cluster Configuration
Skylab made nearly 35,000 orbits in a time period of 2,249 days and traveled a distance of 1 billion miles.
Skylab crews I, II, and III spent 28 days, 59 days and 84 days respectively, in Earth-orbital missions.
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
3. NASA SKYLAB Marker
Skylab launched aboard a modified Saturn V Launch Vehicle, May 14, 1973.
Skylab 2 crew launched aboard Saturn IB Launch Vehicle May 25, 1973.
Skaylab in Earth orbit.
Astronaut activity aboard skylab.
Skylab in Earth orbit.
Astronatus performing extravehicular activies (EVA).
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 20, 2016
4. Nasa Skylab
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 678 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
