One stowaway was on the bicycle ergometer, another was in the LBNP (lower body negative pressure device), and the third was sitting on the toilet in the waste management compartment.

The post Space Rocket History #424 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Stowaways & We Lost Gibson first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“As we rode, the big blue eyes of Al Shepard bored into each of us looking for any sign of weakness, any indication that one of these rookies was not ready to go. I looked back with a defiant smile, … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #423 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Launch & The Vomit Bag Scandal first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In space, on the day the second crew left Skylab, which was September 25, 1973, the orbital workshop began it’s third unmanned period.

The post Space Rocket History #422 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Kohoutek, Experiments, Flight Prep & Training first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I felt like that mission was from my viewpoint the highlight of my career, as being the best astronaut that I could be. I felt like our crew was the best crew we could be because we had done the … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #421 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Recovery & Re-acclimation first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The thing I remember about reentry was not positioning some RCS switches correctly. We got behind and Owen could not read my notes in the checklist because of the limited space (and my ‘unique’ penmanship). I said, ‘Give me the … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #420 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – De-orbit, Re-entry, & Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Hello Houston. Roger. Well I, haven’t talked with you for a while. Isn’t that you down there. Bob? This is Helen, here in Skylab. The boys hadn’t had a good home cooked meal in so long, I  thought I’d bring … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #419 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Those Tricky Garriotts first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On mission day 28, August 24th 1973, it was time to perform the 2nd EVA.  Garriott and Lousma once again stepped outside the orbital workshop for a 4 and ½ hour spacewalk.

The post Space Rocket History #418 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – AMU, EVA 2, Space Physics, Solar Physics and Mission Extension first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Finally, the crew became efficient enough to get all of the work done that was scheduled for a given day. But, that did not make up for the time lost at the beginning of the mission.  Reaching 100 percent efficiency … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #417 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Maximum Effort, Determination, Efficiency, and Accomplishment first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I had to connect eleven five-foot sections of aluminum poles, twice, forming two long poles. These were then extended to Jack some forty or fifty feet away, where the poles were mounted in a ‘V’, and a large ‘sail’ pulled … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #416 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Wives, Spiders, Minnows and a Spacewalk first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Near the end of our preparation period, management said; Well, we believe, we can do this, now let’s set about to see how we can get them down without expending the resources for a rescue mission.  So just overnight we … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #415 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Rescue Mission Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.