Skylab Research Paper

Before there was the International Space Station, before there was Mir, there was Skylab. The International Space Station has been home to eight resident crews who have performed fantastic research in the microgravity of Earth orbit. But none of this would have been possible without Skylab. From the launch on May 14, 1973, to the return of its final crew on Feb. 8, 1974, the Skylab program proved that humans can live and work in outer space for extended periods of time. Pete Conrad, Paul Weitz and Joe Kerwin spent 28 days in orbit as the first crew of Skylab. Alan Bean, Jack Lousma and Owen Garriott, the second crew, spent 59 days in skylab. The third and final Skylab crew spent 84 days in space and consisted of Jerry Carr, Bill Pogue and Edward
But it is an important part of space exploration it laid substantial groundwork for future space ventures. Its potential is just now being realized with the International Space Station. Much of the research and technology that makes the International Space Station possible was still just theory prior to launch of Skylab. Carr said that the Skylab crews also helped develop countermeasures to help astronauts better endure long-duration flights. When asked about the modern successor to the Skylab program, Garriott said that he believes the International Space Station could have a great future. He said that he believes the International Space Station could be a very productive scientific facility once the crew size is increased. Carr said that he and fellow third-crew astronaut Pogue were actually involved in the development for 13 years of what became International Space Station and were able to share their experiences during the design planning. The International Space Station still has a long future, and NASA and its international partners are working to make sure that the International Space Station does realize its full potential. And it will owe much of that success to another space station, which orbited the Earth 30 years