Save Skylab!

[ToSeek]

Skylab Restoration Project

In 1968 NASA ordered two identical flight qualified space stations (Skylab) built along with 3 full
scale training mockups. One flight version, the 1st US Space Station was flown in 1973 and
orbited the Earth until 1979; the second flight element is now on display at the National Air and
Space Museum. One full scale mockup, used by astronauts and engineers at MSFC during the
3 crewed Skylab missions (73-74) was on display for many years at the US Space and Rocket
Center (USRC) located in Huntsville Alabama. Several years ago the Skylab exhibit was moved
outside. The original temporary weather coverings have failed and Skylab has suffered the
effects of rain, sun, wind, plants, dust/dirt, mold, animals and vandals. Right now the Skylab
artifact is nearing a point of no return.

To save Skylab the Alabama/Mississippi section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA) started the Skylab Restoration Project (SRP). AIAA is seeking volunteers
to help save this unique part the US Space Program. If you’re interested in volunteering for
SRP please send an email to microgravityguy@yahoo.com. Our 1st effort will be to stabilize the
situation and remove (save) as much historic material as possible. Each volunteer will be
given a US Space and Rocket Center Volunteer badge.

[Ronald Brak]

Well, we're not giving back the original. But selling back the pieces back, that's another matter.

When the International Space Station is deorbited I hope they smack it into Australia too. Selling pieces of space junk is quite a money maker.

[PhantomWolf]

When the International Space Station is deorbited I hope they smack it into Australia too.

We all hope they'll smack it into Australia, but I doubt it'll do enough damage to sink it. :sigh:

[Ronald Brak]

Well Australia is sinking. The wind blows so much dust to New Zealand parts of the country are below sea level. Give us our dust back!

[PhantomWolf]

And see here is why Kiwis dislike Ozzies. They steal our recipes, our sportspeople, our bands, our actors, our banks, our companies, our racehorses.... And what do we get in return? Dust! And now they demand that back too.....

[BigDon]

I always wondered what NASA had against the Australians. I know Skylab wasn't the only thing we dropped on them. I just know someday something with our name on it is going to smack into something expensive like the Sidney Opera House or Ayer's Rock or something equally embarrassing. Not the usual trailer park hits. (God doesn't seem to like trailer parks in any country)

[Doodler]

I always wondered what NASA had against the Australians. I know Skylab wasn't the only thing we dropped on them. I just know someday something with our name on it is going to smack into something expensive like the Sidney Opera House or Ayer's Rock or something equally embarrassing. Not the usual trailer park hits. (God doesn't seem to like trailer parks in any country)

Hey, c'mon, we learned our lesson. Neither space shuttle had an ounce of debris hit any other country.

[Swift]

Not to distract from the important dust discussion, but CNN.com has picked up the story.

Today, the full-size training mock-up of Skylab is slowly rotting away after spending years on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Now resting in the parking lot, it has flecks of gray paint from a wall dotting its mesh floor, and a bird's nest resting in an equipment compartment.

[mugaliens]

Well, for heaven's sake - bring it back inside! It's big, but not that big, and there's a lot of empty hanger space lying around.

[Mellow]

Agreed, I can't believe it's not being better cared for.

[Gemini]

They may restore it and put in the new Saturn V centere that's being built. I hope.

[Wolverine]

Well, we're not giving back the original.

Heh, just seeing the thread title brought back memories of my "Skylab is Falling!" (iron-on!) T-shirt.

[publiusr]

I remember wishing for it to come down over Alabama, if it couldn't be rescued. Carter wasn't exactly friendly to space.

[loglo]

It landed in my home state. I felt ripped off, I wasn't allowed to go out searching for pieces like most of the rest of the state cos I had exams to do. If it had reentered a few seconds sooner I might have bagged me a piece from my backyard.

[PhantomWolf]

Or even your living room.