# Skylab 2

Occurred 51 years ago

The first crew to the Skylab space station, launched on May 25, 1973, had an added responsibility for their mission: save Skylab!

Mission Type

crew

Launch

Landing

          -  					Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr.				 
          -  					Joseph P. Kerwin				 
          -  					Paul J. Weitz				 

## Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr.

Mission Commander

In September of 1962, Mr. Conrad was selected as an astronaut by NASA. His first flight was Gemini V, which established the space endurance record and placed the United States in the lead for man-hours in space. As commander of Gemini XI, Mr. Conrad helped to set a world’s altitude record. He then served as commander of Apollo XII, the second lunar landing. On Conrad’s final mission, he served as commander of Skylab 2.
				Learn More                			

## Joseph P. Kerwin

Science Pilot

Joseph P. Kerwin, a Captain in the Navy Medical Corps, was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA in July 1958. He logged 28 days in space for Skylab 2, his first and only space flight. Kerwin has the distinction of being the first medical doctor to go to space.
				Read More                			

## Paul J. Weitz

Pilot

Paul J. Weitz was selected as part of NASA’s fifth class of astronauts in April 1966 and went on to make two spaceflights: serving as Pilot for Skylab 2 and Commander of the first flight of Space Shuttle Challenger, STS-6. He also served as deputy director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1987.
				Read More                			

## Featured Skylab 2 Stories

				More NASA History News                			

Article4 Min Read
Skylab 2: “We can fix anything!”

Article8 Min Read
50 Years Ago: The Launch of Skylab, America’s First Space Station

Article3 Min Read
Skylab 2: First Repair Spacewalk
Article4 Min Read
Skylab 2: Mission Accomplished!

## Skylab 2

16 Images

Go To Gallery

Go To Gallery

## Skylab

In 1973 and 1974, NASA pushed the boundaries of long-duration human space missions with Skylab, America’s first space station. With three crews performing hundreds of science experiments and unprecedented observations of the Earth and the Sun, Skylab laid the foundations for the space science program on the International Space Station and for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Learn More

## Discover More Topics From NASA

Skylab

NASA History

Humans In Space

NASA Oral Histories

### The National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.
                  - About NASA's Mission
Join Us

                    - Home
                    - News & Events
                    - Multimedia
                    - NASA+
                    - Missions
                    - Humans in Space
                    - Earth & Climate
                    - The Solar System
                    - The Universe
                    - Science
                    - Aeronautics
                    - Technology
                    - Learning Resources
                    - About NASA
                    - NASA en Español

### Follow NASA

                    -   
                    -   
                    -   
                    -   

                  - 
                  - More NASA Social Accounts
                  - NASA Newsletters

                - Sitemap
                - For Media
                - Privacy Policy
                - FOIA
                - No FEAR Act
                - Office of the IGBudget & Annual Reports
Agency Financial Reports
Contact NASA
Accessibility
-  									Page Last Updated:								  								Sep 27, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Sandra L. Johnson								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman