Ep 17. Skylab - The First 40 Days
- January 1, 1995
- 22 min
The NASA Collection season 1 episode 17 titled "Skylab - The First 40 Days" takes us on a journey through history as we explore NASA's first space station, Skylab. This episode focuses on the initial days of Skylab's mission, which took place between May and June 1973.
The episode starts with a brief introduction to Skylab and its mission. Skylab was launched on May 14, 1973, aboard a Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. This was the first time NASA had launched such a large space station into orbit.
The episode then takes us through the first day of Skylab's mission, showing how the crew members prepared for their journey and gave their final goodbyes to their families. We also get a glimpse of the launch and the crew's reaction as they enter orbit.
The first few days in space were not without their difficulties. The crew had to deal with a lot of issues, from adjusting to weightlessness to fixing a malfunctioning solar panel. We see how they managed to overcome these challenges and continue with their mission.
The episode also explores the various experiments that the crew conducted during the first 40 days. We get a detailed look at each of these experiments and how they contributed to our understanding of space and the effects of weightlessness on the human body.
Throughout the episode, we get to see some stunning footage of Skylab and the crew at work. From sweeping views of the Earth to close-ups of the crew carrying out their experiments, the visuals are truly breathtaking.
The episode concludes with a look at the crew's final days on Skylab. We see how they prepared for their return journey and how they bid farewell to the space station that had been their home for over a month. We also get a brief look at the Skylab reentry and the recovery of the crew.
Overall, "Skylab - The First 40 Days" is an insightful and informative episode that gives us a glimpse of the challenges that the astronauts faced during this historic mission. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in space exploration and the history of NASA.