{"id":320275,"date":"2023-04-14T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=migration&p=320275"},"modified":"2023-08-29T18:48:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T22:48:36","slug":"50-years-ago-skylab-space-station-rolls-out-to-the-launch-pad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-skylab-space-station-rolls-out-to-the-launch-pad\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Ago: Skylab Space Station Rolls Out to the Launch Pad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In April 1973, preparations to launch America\u2019s first space station intensified at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida with the final rollout of a Saturn V rocket, carrying the Skylab 1 space station, to Launch Pad 39A. The large rocket joined the smaller Saturn IB to launch the first crew to the station, already undergoing testing at nearby Launch Pad 39B, marking the first and only time two Saturn rockets occupied both pads. In a first at Launch Complex 39, engineers completed a dual countdown demonstration test for the two vehicles, planned to launch one day apart on May 14 and 15, dates confirmed by NASA management. Skylab 2 Commander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/conrad_charles.pdf?emrc=2dbaa3\">Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad<\/a>, Scientist Pilot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/kerwin_joseph_0.pdf?emrc=b318a1\">Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin<\/a>, and Pilot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/weitz_paul_j._deceased_pdf_47_kb.pdf?emrc=291540\">Paul J. Weitz<\/a> completed their training as their launch and 28-day mission aboard the station approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_1_skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973\" width=\"201\" height=\"250\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_2_skylab_1_from_lut_during_rollout_apr_16_1973.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_from_lut_during_rollout_apr_16_1973\" width=\"168\" height=\"250\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_3_skylab_1_rollout_back_of_vab_ksc-373c-545-29.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_rollout_back_of_vab_ksc\" width=\"310\" height=\"250\"><br><em>Three views of the Saturn V rocket with the Skylab 1 space station mounted on top as it exits the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin the three-mile journey to Launch Pad 39A.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_4_pano_of_rollout_and_vab_ksc-73pc-178.png\" alt=\"pano_of_rollout_and_vab_ksc\" width=\"602\" height=\"259\"><br><em>Panoramic aerial view of the Saturn V carrying the Skylab 1 space station as it leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its way to Launch Pad 39A.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a two-day comprehensive review by senior NASA managers of the readiness of the Skylab program, on April 4 Skylab Program Director William C. Schneider formally set the launch dates of May 14, 1973, for the Skylab 1 space station, and May 15 for Skylab 2, the first crew to occupy the station for a planned 28-day stay. The planning launch dates for Skylab 3 and Skylab 4, the second and third crewed missions, remained Aug. 8 and Nov. 9, respectively. In KSC\u2019s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), workers finished the assembly of the Saturn V vehicle with the addition of the nose cone to the payload shroud on April 8, and eight days later rolled the stacked rocket on its Mobile Launcher to Launch Pad 39A. Since workers assembled the rocket in the VAB\u2019s High Bay 2, the rollout took an unusual route from the rear of the building around to the front before the transporter reached the crawlerway to the launch pad. Only Apollo 10 and 13, also assembled in High Bay 2, made similar journeys. At Pad 39A, the Saturn V joined its smaller cousin, the Saturn IB for the Skylab 2 crew, at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-three-months-until-skylab-americas-first-space-station\/\">Pad 39B since Feb. 26<\/a>, the first time rockets sat on both pads simultaneously. Workers at Pad 39B loaded propellants into the Apollo spacecraft on April 19 and filled the Saturn IB rocket\u2019s first stage tank with kerosene on April 23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_5_sl-1_rollout_apr_16_1973.jpg\" alt=\"sl-1_rollout_apr_16_1973\" width=\"207\" height=\"270\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_6_sl-1_rollout_through_camera_stand_frame_apr_16_1973.jpg\" alt=\"sl-1_rollout_through_camera_stand_frame_apr_16_1973\" width=\"183\" height=\"270\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_7_skylab_1_on_pad_night_view.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_on_pad_night_view\" width=\"181\" height=\"270\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_8_skylab_1_and_2_on_launch_pads_39a_and_b_ksc-73pc-410.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_and_2_on_launch_pads\" width=\"191\" height=\"270\"><br><em>Left: The Saturn V with the Skylab 1 space station on its way to from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A. Middle left and middle right: Two views of the Skylab 1 Saturn V after arriving at Launch Pad 39A. Right: The Skylab 1 Saturn V on Launch Pad 39A in the foreground, with the Skylab 2 Saturn IB on Launch Pad 39B about one mile distant in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As workers prepared the two vehicles and their spacecraft for launch, senior NASA managers met for the Flight Readiness Review at KSC. At the end of the review on April 20, Program Director Schneider stated that while some work still remained, everything looked good for on-time launches of the two rockets. On April 26, engineers in the Launch Control Center (LCC) began the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDDT), essentially a dress rehearsal for the countdown leading to the launch itself. They conducted two parallel countdowns, one for the Saturn V monitored in the LCC\u2019s Firing Room 2 and culminating in a simulated liftoff on May 2, and another one for the Saturn IB from Firing Room 3 ending with a simulated liftoff on May 3. Workers at the pad completed final stowage into the Skylab\u2019s modules and closed the hatches on May 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_9_sl-1_cddt_lcc_fr2_ksc-73p-255.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_l-1_month\" width=\"239\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_10_sl-1_wet_cddt_may_2_1973.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_l-1_month\" width=\"128\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_11_lcc_fr3_skylab_2_cddt.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_l-1_month\" width=\"257\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_12_sl-2_cddt_may_3_1973_s73-25696.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_l-1_month_may_3_1973\" width=\"143\" height=\"190\"><br><em>Parallel countdown demonstration tests. Engineers in Firing Room 2 of the Launch Control Center, left, monitor the test for the Skylab 1 Saturn V at Launch Pad 39A, middle left, while engineers in Firing Room 3, middle right, monitor the Skylab 2 test at Pad 39B, right.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_13_skylab_1_closeup_of_ows_on_lut.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_1_closeup_of_ows_on_lut\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_14_skylab_closeout_photo_may_1_1973.jpg\" alt=\"skylab_closeout_photo_may_1_1973\" width=\"283\" height=\"230\"><br><em>Left: At Launch Pad 39A, close up view of the Skylab Orbital Workshop (OWS) taken from the Launch Umbilical Tower, showing the swing arm used to access the station through a side hatch. Right: Close out photo of the OWS taken shortly before workers closed the hatches.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The schedule for Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz during the final month of training remained busy. On April 17, they answered reporters\u2019 questions during their preflight press conference at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. One week later, they, along with their backups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/schweickart_russell.pdf?emrc=a7ec6e\">Russell L. \u201cRusty\u201d Schweickart<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/musgrave_story.pdf?emrc=c81d9c\">Dr. F. Story Musgrave<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/mccandless_bruce_bio.pdf?emrc=3f8881\">Bruce McCandless<\/a>, began their preflight medical isolation, formally known as the Skylab Flight Crew Health Stabilization Program. For the last three weeks before their launch, the program restricted the astronauts to certain areas at JSC and KSC required for training, exercise, physical exams, and of course flying, and limited their exposure only to personnel who passed strict medical examinations. In one example of how planners implemented this plan, on April 25 all three Skylab crews received a briefing from the Smithsonian Institution regarding identification of short-lived terrestrial phenomena for the astronauts to photograph. To minimize contact with personnel, the Skylab 2 astronauts participated in the briefing remotely via closed-circuit television. On May 4, Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz took part in the final stage of the CDDT at KSC, called the \u201cdry\u201d stage because workers drained the rocket\u2019s fuel tanks, suiting up and boarding their spacecraft at the launch pad as they would on launch day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_15_sl-2_crew_presser_apr_17_1973_s73-24369.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_crew_presser_apr_17_1973\" width=\"352\" height=\"230\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_16_sl-2_training_apr_20_1973.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_training_apr_20_1973\" width=\"160\" height=\"230\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_17_sl-2_crew_post_cddt_at_39a_may_4_1973_s73-25902.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_crew_post_cddt_at_39a_may_4_1973\" width=\"158\" height=\"230\"><br><em>Left: Skylab 2 astronauts Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad, left, Paul J. Weitz, and Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin during their preflight crew press conference. Middle: Kerwin, left, and Conrad training in the Skylab Orbital Workshop trainer at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center. Right: Weitz, Conrad, and Kerwin pose in front of the Skylab 1 Saturn V at Launch Pad 39A<br> following the Countdown Demonstration Test.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_18_skylab-2_suit_up_training_may_8_1973_conrad_weitz_s73-25399.jpg\" alt=\"skylab-2_suit_up_training_may_8_1973_conrad_weitz\" width=\"150\" height=\"185\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_19_sl-2_crew_suit_up_training_s73-25400_may_8_1973.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_crew_suit_up_training_may_8_1973\" width=\"245\" height=\"185\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_20_sl-2_crew_in_cm_sim_may_8_1973_s73-25401.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_crew_in_cm_sim_may_8_1973\" width=\"279\" height=\"185\"><br><em>Left: Skylab 2 Commander Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad, left, assists Pilot Paul J. Weitz with donning his spacesuit in preparation for a suited run in the Apollo Command Module (CM) simulator at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Middle: Weitz, right, assists Skylab 2 Scientist Pilot Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin with his suit. Right: Conrad, left,<br> Kerwin, and Weitz in the CM simulator at JSC.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_21_solar_physics_briefing_bldg_5_may_10_1973_s73-25538.jpg\" alt=\"solar_physics_briefing_bldg_5_may_10_1973\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_22_sl-2_crew_depart_ellington_may_13_1973.jpg\" alt=\"sl-2_crew_depart_ellington_may_13_1973\" width=\"353\" height=\"222\"><br><em>Left: Skylab 2 astronauts Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin, seated left, and Paul J. Weitz receive last minute solar physics instruction at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Right: Weitz, Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad, and Kerwin prepare to depart Ellington Air Force Base near NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston for NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida two days before their planned launch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following last minute training at JSC, Conrad, Kerwin, and Weitz departed Houston\u2019s Ellington Air Force Base on May 13 and flew their T-38 Talon jets to KSC for final preparations for launch. They observed the launch of Skylab 1 on May 14, but their plans changed following the failure of the station\u2019s micrometeoroid shield and solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>To be continued \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>World events in April 1973:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 2 \u2013 Launch of the LexisNexis computerized legal research system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 3 \u2013 The first phone call is made on a hand-held mobile phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 4 \u2013 The World Trade Center, twin 110-story towers then the tallest in the world, opens in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 5 \u2013 NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-pioneer-11-first-to-explore-saturn\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"307760\">Pioneer 11<\/a> spacecraft is launched to explore Jupiter and Saturn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 6 \u2013 Ron Bloomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 9 \u2013 Painter Pablo Picasso dies of a heart attack at age 91.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>April 20 \u2013 The Canadian Anik A2 becomes the first commercial satellite (for Telesat Canada).<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li 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4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Aug 29, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\">NASA History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/skylab\/\">Skylab<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In April 1973, preparations to launch America\u2019s first space station intensified at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida with the final rollout of a Saturn V rocket, carrying the Skylab 1 space station, to Launch Pad 39A.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":321463,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2724],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"50 Years Ago: Skylab Space Station Rolls Out to the Launch 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name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"50 Years Ago: Skylab Space Station Rolls Out to the Launch Pad\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-skylab-space-station-rolls-out-to-the-launch-pad\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_1_skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-04-14T17:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Skylab,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":7,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":321463,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/skylab_l-1_month_1_skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973.jpg","title":"skylab_l-1_month_1_skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973","alt":"skylab_1_emerging_from_vab_apr_16_1973","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=320275"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":499519,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320275\/revisions\/499519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/321463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=320275"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=320275"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=320275"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=320275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}