Skylab was the United States' first space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974. It was operated by three trios of astronaut crews: Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4. Skylab was constructed from a repurposed Saturn V third stage (the S-IVB), and took the place of the stage during launch. Operations included an orbital workshop, a solar observatory, Earth observation and hundreds of experiments. Skylab's orbit eventually decayed and it disintegrated in the atmosphere on July 11, 1979, scattering debris across the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.
US Skylab enters atmosphere over Australia and disintegrates
Skylab was the United States' first space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974.
Historical Significance
Skylab was the United States' first space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974.
Events Before
Air India Flight 855 crashes into the Arabian Sea less than two minutes after takeoff, killing all 213 people on board
Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
TV series "All Creatures Great and Small" debuts on BBC TV, based on the books by James Herriot, starring Robert Hardy a
TV series "All Creatures Great and Small" debuts on BBC TV, based on the books by James Herriot, starring Robert Hardy and Christopher Timothy
Bee Gees' album "Saturday Night Fever" goes #1; stays on top for 24 weeks
Bee Gees' album "Saturday Night Fever" goes #1; stays on top for 24 weeks
Sweden becomes the first nation in the world to ban aerosol sprays, due to their harmful effect on the earth's ozone lay
Sweden becomes the first nation in the world to ban aerosol sprays, due to their harmful effect on the earth's ozone layer
Novelist Danielle Steel (30) divorces Danny Zugelder after almost 3 years of marriage
Novelist Danielle Steel (30) divorces Danny Zugelder after almost 3 years of marriage
Events After
Chrysler Europe is renamed Talbot
Chrysler Europe was the American automotive company Chrysler's operations in Europe from 1967 through 1978.
Real Records releases "Pretenders" in the UK, the debut album by The Pretenders
Pretenders is the debut studio album by British-American band the Pretenders, released in January 1980. A combination of rock and roll, punk and new wave music, it was an immediate success.
Pink Floyd's double album "The Wall" hits #1
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest CBS Records. It is the last album to include all four post-Barrett-era band members.
US President Jimmy Carter announces a US boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow after the Soviet invasion of Afgh
US President Jimmy Carter announces a US boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Cypriot-American model Angie Bowie (30) divorces British singer David Bowie (33) after just under 10 years of marriage
Cypriot-American model Angie Bowie (30) divorces British singer David Bowie (33) after just under 10 years of marriage
More from the 1970s
death
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
birth
Chai Jing is born
Chai Jing, Chinese journalist and environmental activist, known for chinese journalist and environmental activist, was born on 1976-01-01. Chai Jing is a Chinese journalist.
Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League
Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney (August 31, 1921 – January 10, 1994) was an Irish-American front office executive in Major League Baseball.
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on July 11, 1979?
- Skylab was the United States' first space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974. It was operated by three trios of astronaut crews: Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4. Skylab was constructed from a repurposed Saturn V third stage (the S-IVB), and took the place of the stage during launch.
- Why is US Skylab enters atmosphere over Australia and disintegrates significant?
- Skylab was the United States' first space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974.