# Skylab

> space station launched and operated by NASA

**Wikidata**: [Q190776](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q190776)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/skylab

## Summary
Skylab was a space station and space laboratory launched and operated by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Launched on May 14, 1973, it remained in low Earth orbit until its uncontrolled reentry on July 11, 1979. The station served as a crewed spacecraft focused on research and experiments, hosting three separate astronaut crews between 1973 and 1974.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Skylab is classified as both a space station and a space laboratory.
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Launch Date:** May 14, 1973, at 17:30:00, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Saturn V (specifically SA-513).
- **Mass:** 76,295 kilograms.
- **Dimensions:** 25.1 meters in length, 17 meters in width, 11.1 meters in height, and 6.6 meters in diameter.
- **Volume:** 351.6 cubic meters.
- **Orbital Parameters:** Occupied a low Earth orbit with a periapsis of 434 km, an apoapsis of 442 km, and an orbital period of 93.4 minutes.
- **Mission End:** Uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere on July 11, 1979.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Skylab launched and how long did it stay in orbit?
A: Skylab was launched on May 14, 1973. It remained in orbit until its decay and uncontrolled reentry on July 11, 1979, completing a total of 34,981 orbits around Earth.

### Q: Who were the crew members of Skylab?
A: Skylab was visited by three crews: the Skylab 2 crew (Pete Conrad, Joseph P. Kerwin, Paul J. Weitz), the Skylab 3 crew (Alan Bean, Owen K. Garriott, Jack R. Lousma), and the Skylab 4 crew (Gerald Carr, Edward G. Gibson, William R. Pogue).

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Skylab?
A: Skylab was launched using a Saturn V rocket (designated SA-513), which was an American human-rated launch vehicle previously used for the Apollo program.

## Why It Matters
Skylab holds significant historical and scientific importance as the first American space station and a pioneering orbital laboratory. Operated by NASA, it demonstrated the feasibility of long-duration spaceflight, allowing crews to live and work in space for extended periods—vital data for future space exploration.

The station was a massive technological undertaking for its time. Weighing over 76,000 kilograms and possessing a habitable volume of 351.6 cubic meters, it provided a substantial workspace for scientific research. Its launch aboard the Saturn V rocket marked one of the final uses of this powerful launch vehicle. Skylab's mission profile included hundreds of scientific experiments and Earth observations, setting the standard for future orbital laboratories. Its eventual uncontrolled reentry in 1979 marked the end of an era but provided critical data on orbital decay and the lifecycle of large spacecraft.

## Notable For
- **First American Space Station:** Established by the United States as a primary orbital outpost for long-term habitation.
- **Utilization of Saturn V:** One of the few non-lunar missions to utilize the massive American Saturn V launch vehicle.
- **Crewed Research:** Hosted nine astronauts across three missions (Skylab 2, 3, and 4) dedicated to research and experiments.
- **Longevity:** Completed 34,981 orbits around the Earth over its six-year lifespan in low Earth orbit.
- **Size:** Featured a considerable habitable volume (351.6 cubic meters) and mass (76,295 kg), distinguishing it as a large-scale structure in space.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
Skylab was a large spacecraft designed to remain in space for an extended period. It had a total mass of 76,295 kilograms and a habitable volume of 351.6 cubic meters.
*   **Dimensions:**
    *   Length: 25.1 metres
    *   Width: 17 metres
    *   Height: 11.1 metres
    *   Diameter: 6.6 metres
*   **Orbital Characteristics:**
    *   Orbital Inclination: 50 degrees
    *   Orbital Period: 93.4 minutes
    *   Periapsis: 434 kilometres
    *   Apoapsis: 442 kilometres
    *   Parent Body: Earth
    *   Satellite Of: Low Earth orbit

### Mission History
The Skylab program was a major initiative for NASA following the Apollo missions.
*   **Launch:** The station was launched on May 14, 1973, at 17:30:00 UTC from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. It was carried into orbit by a Saturn V rocket (SA-513).
*   **Operations:** The station was designed to support a maximum capacity of three crew members. It served as the destination for three specific missions: Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4.
*   **Reentry:** After completing 34,981 orbits, Skylab's orbit decayed. It underwent an uncontrolled reentry on July 11, 1979.

### Crewed Missions
Skylab was visited by three distinct crews, each consisting of three astronauts, who operated the station as a space laboratory.
*   **Skylab 2:** Pete Conrad, Joseph P. Kerwin, and Paul J. Weitz.
*   **Skylab 3:** Alan Bean, Owen K. Garriott, and Jack R. Lousma.
*   **Skylab 4:** Gerald Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue.

### Identifiers and Classifications
Skylab is categorized as an instance of a "space laboratory" and "space station."
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1973-027A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1973-027A
*   **Call Sign:** Skylab
*   **Part of:** Skylab program

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/skylab.htm)
2. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1973-027A)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. BBC Things
7. BabelNet
8. Quora
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. KBpedia