Space Rocket History Podcast
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This second generation of the Soyuz spacecraft, the Soyuz 7k-T was flown on Soyuz 12 through Soyuz 40 missions from 1973–1981. The new 7K-T spacecraft was designed to accommodate only two cosmonauts who would wear pressure suits at all times … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/03/space-rocket-history-435-soyuz-12-13/ The post Space Rocket History #435 – Soyuz 12 & 13 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/03/space-rocket-history-435-soyuz-12-13/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
At this point in 1973, the Soviets were attempting to fly 2 types of space station, the long duration orbital station scientific version called DOS. The other station was a military spy space station equipped with a machine gun, called … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/03/space-rocket-history-434-salyut-2-mars-4-5-6-7-tang-ceremony/ The post Space Rocket History #434 – Salyut 2, Mars 4, 5, 6, 7 & Tang Ceremony https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/03/space-rocket-history-434-salyut-2-mars-4-5-6-7-tang-ceremony/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
Despite predictions, events seldom occur precisely as expected. The calculated breakup altitude of Skylab was based on its intended structural strength specifications. However, the actual vehicle was stronger than the specified strength requirements. The post Space Rocket History #433 – Skylab – Crashdown https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/02/space-rocket-history-433-skylab-crashdown/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
The official decision to proceed with the Skylab reboost mission was made on September 1st 1977, initiating a two-year preparation period for the development and production of the required hardware and systems. The post Space Rocket History #432 – Skylab – Reboost https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/02/space-rocket-history-432-skylab-reboost/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
Early in the planning stages of the Skylab flight, there was a desire to keep it in orbit long enough to use it as the core of a larger station. The post Space Rocket History #431 – Skylab – Skylab 5 & Skylab B https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/01/space-rocket-history-431-skylab-skylab-5-skylab-b/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
Activating the station upon arrival was a challenge, but packing up to return home was also a major event that took several days. For Carr and his crew, this was the last planned visit, but they left open the possibility … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/01/space-rocket-history-430-skylab-skylab-4-leaving-skylab/ The post Space Rocket History #430 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Leaving Skylab https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2024/01/space-rocket-history-430-skylab-skylab-4-leaving-skylab/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
The next time an American would venture outside of a spacecraft would be on a Space Shuttle flight and that was nine years later. In less than a decade, from June 1965 to February 1974, American astronauts had learned to … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/12/space-rocket-history-429-skylab-skylab-4-solar-observations-and-the-last-eva/ The post Space Rocket History #429 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Solar Observations and the Last EVA https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/12/space-rocket-history-429-skylab-skylab-4-solar-observations-and-the-last-eva/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
This crew was the first to celebrate a new year in space 17 times as they orbited the earth and moved through the time zones. The post Space Rocket History #428 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Kohoutek in all its Glory https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/12/space-rocket-history-428-skylab-skylab-4-kohoutek-in-all-its-glory/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“We and everybody on the ground thought that it was going to be a beautiful, brilliant comet. It turned out to be beautiful all right, but it was so faint that we really had to work to find it. Once … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/11/space-rocket-history-427-skylab-skylab-4-christmas-in-space/ The post Space Rocket History #427 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Christmas in Space https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/11/space-rocket-history-427-skylab-skylab-4-christmas-in-space/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“Nothing was outside, three times I went out that hatch into the ‘truly great outdoors.’ When I was out there, it was a silent world, except for the whispers of my own breath. Sometimes I felt totally alone, like the … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/11/space-rocket-history-426-skylab-skylab-4-the-first-eva/ The post Space Rocket History #426 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – The First EVA https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/11/space-rocket-history-426-skylab-skylab-4-the-first-eva/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“There was no strike in space by any stretch of the imagination. What could we threaten to do, go live on the moon? If any of these writers had gotten their information from just one of us, the crew or … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/10/space-rocket-history-425-skylab-skylab-4-the-strike-fake-news/ The post Space Rocket History #425 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – The Strike (Fake News) https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/10/space-rocket-history-425-skylab-skylab-4-the-strike-fake-news/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
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 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/10/space-rocket-history-424-skylab-skylab-4-stowaways-we-lost-gibson/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/09/space-rocket-history-423-skylab-skylab-4-launch-the-vomit-bag-scandal/ The post Space Rocket History #423 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Launch & The Vomit Bag Scandal https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/09/space-rocket-history-423-skylab-skylab-4-launch-the-vomit-bag-scandal/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
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 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/09/space-rocket-history-422-skylab-skylab-4-kohoutek-experiments-flight-prep-training/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/08/space-rocket-history-421-skylab-skylab-3-recovery-re-acclimation/ The post Space Rocket History #421 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Recovery & Re-acclimation https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/08/space-rocket-history-421-skylab-skylab-3-recovery-re-acclimation/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/08/space-rocket-history-420-skylab-skylab-3-de-orbit-re-entry-splashdown/ The post Space Rocket History #420 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – De-orbit, Re-entry, & Splashdown https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/08/space-rocket-history-420-skylab-skylab-3-de-orbit-re-entry-splashdown/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/07/space-rocket-history-419-skylab-skylab-3-those-tricky-garriotts/ The post Space Rocket History #419 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Those Tricky Garriotts https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/07/space-rocket-history-419-skylab-skylab-3-those-tricky-garriotts/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
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 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/07/space-rocket-history-418-skylab-skylab-3-amu-eva-2-space-physics-solar-physics-and-mission-extension/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-417-skylab-skylab-3-maximum-effort-determination-efficiency-and-accomplishment/ The post Space Rocket History #417 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Maximum Effort, Determination, Efficiency, and Accomplishment https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-417-skylab-skylab-3-maximum-effort-determination-efficiency-and-accomplishment/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-416-skylab-skylab-3-wives-spiders-minnows-and-a-space-walk/ The post Space Rocket History #416 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Wives, Spiders, Minnows and a Spacewalk https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-416-skylab-skylab-3-wives-spiders-minnows-and-a-space-walk/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“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 → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-415-skylab-skylab-3-rescue-mission-part-2/ The post Space Rocket History #415 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Rescue Mission Part 2 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/06/space-rocket-history-415-skylab-skylab-3-rescue-mission-part-2/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“I think for me that was probably the low point of the mission because it threatened our ability to get our job done, and I wasn’t willing to come home. I’ve never been afraid of space, but that was a … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/05/space-rocket-history-414-skylab-skylab-3-rescue-mission-part-1/ The post Space Rocket History #414 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Rescue Mission Part 1 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/05/space-rocket-history-414-skylab-skylab-3-rescue-mission-part-1/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
Garriott was in the center couch and Lousma was on his right with a small window near his seat, Suddenly Jack announced, “Owen, there goes one of our thrusters floating by the window!” The post Space Rocket History #413 – Skylab – Skylab 3-Rendezvous, Docking & Vomit https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/05/space-rocket-history-413-skylab-skylab-3-rendezvous-docking-vomit/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
The crew complement for the Skylab 3 mission was 783 life forms (52 fish, 720 flies, 6 mice, 2 spiders and 3 humans), by far the largest crew yet. The post Space Rocket History #412 – Skylab – The Launch of Skylab 3 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/04/space-rocket-history-412-skylab-the-launch-of-skylab-3/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
Before the astronauts could leave there was one final problem to solve. Skylab’s refrigeration system began warming up. Houston immediately went to work on finding a solution. Now, there was some concern that the crews return would be delayed. The post Space Rocket History #411 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Splashdown https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/04/space-rocket-history-411-skylab-skylab-2-splashdown/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
On Mission day 25, the crew was informed that they had surpassed the Russian space endurance record set by Soyuz 11 on Salyut 1 in 1971. The post Space Rocket History #410 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 24-28 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/03/space-rocket-history-410-skylab-skylab-2-days-24-28/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
“Houston, Skylab. I’d like you to be the first to know that the PLT is the proud father of a genuine flare.” Joe Kerwin The post Space Rocket History #409 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 8-23 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/03/space-rocket-history-409-skylab-skylab-2-days-8-23/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
NASA’s first priority was to get Skylab back into solar inertial attitude. This was both the coolest attitude and would point the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) solar arrays directly at the sun. Thus the crew would have the most electrical … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/02/space-rocket-history-408-skylab-skylab-2-days-2-7-10th-anniversary-celebration/ The post Space Rocket History #408 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 2-7 & 10th Anniversary Celebration https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/02/space-rocket-history-408-skylab-skylab-2-days-2-7-10th-anniversary-celebration/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
During the stand up EVA, Kerwin held Weitz while he pulled at the debris several times which disturbed the stability of the Skylab station and caused the Skylabs gyros to compensate. This was a big problem because it nearly pulled … Continue reading → https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/02/space-rocket-history-407-skylab-we-can-fix-anything/ The post Space Rocket History #407 – Skylab – “We Can Fix Anything” https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/02/space-rocket-history-407-skylab-we-can-fix-anything/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
At 07:00 hours Houston time, Skylab 2 roared off its Milk Stool from LC-39B; the first Saturn IB launch in almost five years and only the second launch from Pad 39B. The post Space Rocket History #406 – Skylab – The Launch of Skylab 2 https://www.spacerockethistory.com/2023/01/space-rocket-history-406-skylab-the-launch-of-skylab-2/ first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast https://www.spacerockethistory.com.
