1973-050A
Skylab SL-3 Crew
- Commander Alan Bean, Capt. USN
- Science Pilot Owen K. Garriott, PhD., NASA
- Pilot Jack R. Lousma, Maj. USMC
The Apollo CSM 117 spaceship was assigned to the Skylab SL-3 mission. It was launched at 1111 on 1973 Jul 28. The Saturn IB placed Skylab SL-3 in a 155 x 232 km x 50 deg orbit.
Rendezvous burns began with NC-1 at 1329; by 1903 the spaceship was on final approach to Skylab. The rendezvous was marred by the discovery of problems with the RCS Quad B thrusters which were leaking fuel.
The rendezvous with Skylab was complete by 1910. The crew flew around the station to inspect its condition, and docked at 2003 with the MDA. Skylab's orbit was 430 x 445 km x 50.0 deg. The crew entered the station at 2115.
RCS Quad D sprung a leak at 1037 on Aug 2. This left the condition of the spaceship for the return flight in question, and plans began immediately for a rescue mission. This would involve CSM-118 being launched on AS-208 as Skylab Rescue, crewed by Vance Brand and Don Lind. Skylab Rescue would be fitted with a special kit including two extra couches, so that five people could be returned to Earth. It was quickly decided that a rescue would probably not be needed, and CSM-118 was prepared on the assumption that it would be used as Skylab SL-4, while retaining the option of launching it sooner as the rescue mission. By Aug 14 the AS-208 rocket was on LC39B with the CSM on top of it. If required, Skylab Rescue would have been launched on 1973 Sep 15. However, CSM-117 did not deteriorate further, and a final decision was made on Sep 9 that the rescue mission was not needed and that CSM-118 could proceed in its original role as Skylab SL-4.
At 0520 on Sep 25 the CSM was powered up, and by 1430 the crew were aboard with the hatches closed. Skylab SL-3 undocked at 1950 on Sep 25, and made a separation burn at 2000. SPS retrofire was at 2138, and CM-117 splashed down safely at 2219:54. The CM was recovered by the USS New Orleans.
Landing point was 30 47 36N 120 29 24W.
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| Skylab 3 |
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| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
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| 1973 Jul 28 | 1110:50 | Launch |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1113:07 | S-IB inboard engine cutoff |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1113:10 | S-IB outboard engine cutoff |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1113:10 | S-IB separation |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1120:41 | S-IVB main engine cutoff |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1120 | Earth orbit insertion, 155 x 232 km x 50.0 deg |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1128 | S-IVB separation |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1328:56 | NC1 (10s burn), 232 x 383 km x 50 deg |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1413 | RCS Quad B leak |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1544:45 | NC2, 374 x 402 km |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1630:53 | CC (2s corrective combination), 343 x 426 km |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1707:53 | NSR (SPS coelliptic), 413 x 426 km |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1827:26 | TPI |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1901:14 | TPF, final approach |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1910 | Rendezvous with Skylab |
| 1973 Jul 28 | | Flyaround inspection |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 1932 | Docking (from MR) with MDA |
| 1973 Jul 28 | 2115 | Crew entry to Skylab |
| 1973 Aug 2 | 1037 | RCS Quad D leak |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 0520 | CSM power up |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 1430 | Crew return to CSM |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 1949:42 | Undocking |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 2138:18 | SPS retrofire 19s 137m/s |
| | 2138:37 | SPS cutoff |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 2142? | SM separation |
| | | Docking ring (and probe) jettison |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 2206? | Entry interface |
| 1973 Sep 25 | 2219:54 | Splashdown |
| 1973 Sep 25 | | Recovery by USS New Orleans |
