1973-027A
The Skylab Orbital Workshop (Skylab OWS), Skylab A was launched at 1730 on 1973 May 14 by the two-stage Saturn V SA-513 from pad 39A at Cape Kennedy. The launch was designated Skylab SL-1. At 1731:13 the meteoroid shield was torn away from the side of the OWS by the vibration of the launch and the SAS-2 boom came free. Meteoroid shield debris impacted near 80.52W 28.66N. At 1732 the S-IC-513 first stage separated, but at 1733:10 the S-IC interstage ring failed to separate (probably due to damage from the shield debris). The second stage, S-II-513, ignited successfully. At 1739:49 the S-II shut down, entering a 93.2 min, 427 x 439 km x 50.0 deg orbit. It separated from the OWS at 1739:52, becoming satellite 1973-27B; it reentered on 1975 Jan 11. The SAS-2 array was completely torn away at 1739 when the S-II retro plume hit it.
The Skylab OWS pitched over and the refrigeration system radiator cover was jettisoned off the rear of the OWS at 1740. At 1745:20 the four nose fairing panels were ejected. Skylab reached solar intertial attitude at 1745:59.
At 1746:39 the ATM began to rotate into position, and was locked in place at 1750. Its solar panels deployed at 1754:52. At 1822 the SAS arrays were commanded to unfold, but SAS-1 was fouled by a piece of the meteoroid shield and only opened a crack. SAS-2 had already floated away into a separate orbit! Parts of the SAS arrays (1973-27J,K,L,M) were tracked later that day. The launch of the first crew was delayed from May 15 to May 25. Meanwhile, because of the lack of the thermal coating that had covered the meteoroid shield, temperatures in the OWS began to rise.
Skylab SL-2 docked at the axial port on the MDA (this was the only port ever used) before 2156 on May 25. It undocked at 2245 and flew around the station. A standup EVA attempt to free the SAS 1 wing was a failure. After some problems, SL-2 was back at the docking port and hard docked by 0352 on May 26.
The first crew entered the MDA at 1635 on May 26. At 1800 the pilot entered the AM and OWS to check conditions, and at 2000 on May 26 the crew entered the OWS.
- CDR Commander: Charles Conrad, Jr.
- PLT Pilot: Paul J. Weitz
- SPLT Science Pilot: Joseph Kerwin, MD.
First Skylab Crew (1973 May 26-Jun 22)
At 2100 on May 26 the crew deployed the JSC Parasol sunshade through the SAL (Scientific Airlock) in the OWS. The operation was complete by 0100 on May 27. Later on May 27 the ATM was activated. Skylab had begun operations. The space station's orbit was adjusted using the Apollo RCS thrusters at 0108 on May 29.
At 1517 on Jun 7, the CDR and SPLT conducted the first Skylab EVA, in which the SAS 1 array was freed. (see Skylab AM for details). The orbit was again adjusted at 2059 on Jun 17. The second EVA, by Conrad and Weitz, was carried out on Jun 19. Jun 20 was devoted to deactivation and cargo stowage. A particle collection experiment was placed in the SAL on Jun 21. The crew returned to Skylab SL-2 and undocked at 0855 on Jun 22.
The Skylab SL-3 spaceship docked at 2003 on 1973 Jul 28. The crew entered the lab at 2115.
- CDR Commander: Alan Bean
- PLT Pilot: Jack R. Lousma
- SPLT Science Pilot: Dr. Owen K. Garriott
Second Skylab Crew (1973 Jul 28-Sep 22)
The lab was reactivated by Aug 2. On Aug 4, the S-063 camera was jettisoned after being stuck in the SAL. It was tracked as 1973-27V and reentered after 27 days. The new crew's first EVA was on Aug 6 and saw the installation of a new A-frame sunshade.
Bean and Lousma got to testfly the ASMU (Automatically Stabilized Maneuvering Unit), a precursor of the MMU built by Martin Marietta, on Aug 13 and 15. The second and third EVAs were carried out on Aug 24 and Sep 22. On Sep 20 the CSM was checked out in preparation for the return. At 1430 on Sep 25 the crew transferred to the Apollo spaceship; Skylab SL-3 undocked at 1950 on Sep 25.
Skylab SL-4 docked at 2202 on Nov 16. The new crew entered at 1430 on Nov 17.
- CDR Commander: Gerald Carr
- PLT Pilot: William Pogue
- SPLT Science Pilot: Dr. Edward Gibson
Third Skylab Crew (1973 Nov 17-1974 Feb 8)
The first EVA was on Nov 22. On Nov 23 the CMG1 gyro overheated and had to be shut down. CSM trim burns were made on Nov 25 at 0222 and Dec 12. Two more EVAs, to observe Comet Kohoutek, were made on Dec 25 and 29. Flight tests of the M509 AMU maneuvering unit were made on 1974 Jan 20. The AMU was a project left over from the Gemini program. A CSM RCS trim burn was made at 1312 on Jan 21. On Jan 27, Skylab flew within 6 km of the OV3-2 satellite. Preparations for the final return to Earth began on Feb 2 with a checkout of the CSM. The final EVA was on Feb 3; equipment stowage took up Feb 5. At 2048 on Feb 6 the orbit was altered from 431 x 444 km to 433 x 455 km using the CSM thrusters. The crew transferred to the CSM at 0620 on Feb 8 and the MDA hatch was closed. After an RCS test burn at 0815, the Skylab SL-4 spaceship undocked at 1034 on 1974 Feb 8. Some engineering tests were carried out on Feb 8-9, then the station was powered down and put in gravity gradient mode. Telemetry was commanded off at 2009:05 on Feb 9.
It was initially intended that the Shuttle should dock with Skylab and raise its orbit, but unexpectedly rapid orbital decay associated with the 1980 solar maximum and delays to the Shuttle program made this untenable. In 1978 NASA began a series of measures to prolong the life of the station by changing its orientation in orbit. Telemetry was commanded on on 1978 Mar 7. Attitude control maneuvers were made between June and November. By Nov 3 it was in minimum drag configuration in a 364 x 377 km x 50.0 deg. On 1979 Jan 25 it was changed to solar inertial attitude; the orbit was 358 x 358 km x 50.0 deg. The attitude was changed on 1979 Jun 20 to the torque equilibrium attitude. At 0745 on Jul 11 Skylab was sent into a tumble in its last active maneuver. At 128 km altitude, Jul 11 at 1632, the solar panels broke off and telemetry from the station ceased. At 1637 on 1979 Jul 11 Skylab reentered over the Indian Ocean; some of the debris impacted in Australia and was recovered.
| Skylab 1 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 May 14 | 1730 | Launch by Saturn V | |
| 1731:13 | T+63s OWS meteoroid shield fails, 8.7 km 0.30km/s | ||
| SAS-2 partial deploy | |||
| Shield impact at 80.52W 28.66N? | |||
| 1732:20 | OECO | ||
| 1732:38 | IECO | ||
| 1732:40 | S-IC sep | -6055 x 206 | |
| 1732:43 | S-II burn | ||
| 1733:10 | S-IC interstage failed to sep | ||
| 1735:14 | S-II CECO | 38.82 -5513 x 353 x 50.0 | |
| 1739:49 | S-II OECO | 93.2 427 x 439 x 50.0 | |
| 1739:51 | S-II Sep at 18.5m/s | ||
| 1739:53 | T+9:53 SAS-2 array torn off | ||
| 1740 | Radiator cover sep | ||
| 1743:25 | S-II LOX safing | ||
| 1745:20 | Fairing sep | ||
| 1745:59 | Solar inertial attitude obtained | ||
| 1746:39 | ATM rotation begins | ||
| 1747 | Discone antenna booms deploy | ||
| 1755 | ATM locked in place | ||
| 1754:52 | ATM solar panels out | ||
| 1822 | SAS fails to deploy | ||
| 1930? | S-II venting complete | ||
| 1973 May 25 | 2125? | SL-2 docked between 2120 and 2145? | |
| 2156 | SL-2 already docked | ||
| 2245 | SL-2 undocked | ||
| SL-2 flyaround | |||
| SL-2 SEVA, SAS-1 work | |||
| SL-2 failed to dock | |||
| 1973 May 26 | 0352 | SL-2 docked | |
| 1973 May 26 | 1635 | Crew entry MDA | |
| 1800 | PLT enter AM | ||
| 2000 | Crew enter OWS | ||
| 2100 | Deploy parasol begins | ||
| 1973 May 27 | 0100 | Parasol deploy completed | |
| ATM operational | |||
| 1973 May 29 | 0108 | CSM orbit trim | |
| 1973 Jun 7 | 1518 | SL-2 EVA-1 | |
| 1518:27 | 2.0psi | ||
| 1520:02 | 0.8psi depress | ||
| 1521:16 | 0.5psi depress | ||
| 1522:44 | 0.2psi depress | ||
| 1523:16 | HO | ||
| 1525 | CDR egress | ||
| 1526 | SPT egress | ||
| 1755 | SAS 1 array freed | ||
| 1846 | SPT in | ||
| 1847 | CDR in | ||
| 1847:44 | HC | ||
| 1848:12 | Initial repress | ||
| 1850:36 | Fast Repress 0.4 to 3.5 psi | ||
| 1973 Jun 17 | 2059 | Orbit trim | |
| 1973 Jun 19 | SL-2 EVA-2 | ||
| 1050:31 | Start depress | ||
| 1051:04 | 3 psi | ||
| 1052:00 | 1.0 psi | ||
| 1052:34 | 0.5 psi | ||
| 1054:07 | 0.2 psi | ||
| 1057:20 | HO | ||
| 1058:10 | EV-1 (PLT) egress | ||
| 1105:42 | CDR egress | ||
| 1112 | Activate ATM battery with hammer | ||
| 1231? | Ingress | ||
| 1233 | HC | ||
| 1233 | Start repress | ||
| 1235:49 | Fast repress 0.5 to 4 psi | ||
| 1973 Jun 20 | Deactivation | ||
| 1973 Jun 21 | Particle coll. expt in SAL | ||
| 1973 Jun 22? | Crew to CSM | ||
| 1973 Jun 22 | 0855 | SL-2 Undocked | |
| 1973 Jul 9 | 27Q-U, 64-74D,E tracked | ||
| 1973 Jul 28 | 2003 | SL-3 docked | |
| 2115 | Crew entry | ||
| 1973 Aug 2 | OWS reactivated | ||
| 1973 Aug 4 | S-063 camera jettison (27V) | ||
| 1973 Aug 6 | SL-3 EVA-1, A-frame (27W-Z) | ||
| (Bean in AL?) | |||
| 1724 | In depress | ||
| 1726 | 0.7psi | ||
| 1728 | 0.2psi | ||
| 1732:23 | HO | ||
| 1733 | Egress | ||
| 2352 | PLT (EV2) ingress | ||
| 2359 | SPT (EV1) ingress | ||
| 1973 Aug 7 | 0000 | HC | |
| 0003 | Repress | ||
| 1973 Aug 13 | ASMU test | ||
| 1973 Aug 15 | ASMU test | ||
| 1973 Aug 24 | SL-3 EVA-2 | ||
| EV1 PLT (PCU 13, Umb 13) SPT (PCU 010, Umb 009) | |||
| 1618 | Depressing | ||
| 1620:50 | 0.5psi | ||
| 1624:08 | HO | ||
| 1625 | SPLT out | ||
| 1626 | PLT out | ||
| 2053 | SPLT and PLT? in | ||
| 2054:21 | HC | ||
| 2057:07 | 0.5psi | ||
| 2057:16 | Fast repress | ||
| 1973 Sep 20 | CSM checkout | ||
| 1973 Sep 22 | SL-3 EVA-3 | ||
| EV1 SPT, Umb 7, PCU 13 | |||
| EV2 CDR Umb 12, PCU 10 | |||
| 1110:50 | in Depress | ||
| 1112:28 | 2.5 psi | ||
| 1114:20 | 1.3 psi | ||
| 1115:41 | 0.7 psi | ||
| 1117:50 | 0.2 psi | ||
| 1118:34 | HO | ||
| 1120 | SPT egress | ||
| 1129 | CDR egress | ||
| 1357 | Ingress | ||
| 1359:16 | HC | ||
| 1400:55 | Repress 0.2 to 4 psi | ||
| 1402:30 | Repress complete | ||
| 1973 Sep 25 | 1430 | Crew transfer to CSM | |
| 1950 | SL-3 undocked | ||
| 1973 Nov 16 | 2202 | SL-4 docked | |
| 1973 Nov 17 | 1430 | Crew entry | |
| 1973 Nov 22 | SL-4 EVA-1; EV1 SPT, EV2 PLT | ||
| 1739 | In depress | ||
| 1739 | 2 psi | ||
| 1741:26 | 1 psi | ||
| 1742:51 | 0.3 psi | ||
| 1743:48 | HO | ||
| 1747 | SPT egress | ||
| 1754? | PLT egress | ||
| 1973 Nov 23 | 0015 | Ingress | |
| 0017:18 | HC | ||
| 0018:45 | Repress | ||
| 1973 Nov 23 | CMG-1 gyro shutdown | ||
| 1973 Nov 25 | 0222:30 | CSM trim 1.8m/s 88s | |
| 1973 Dec 12 | 1704:54 | CSM trim 0.3m/s 17s | |
| 1973 Dec 25 | EVA-2, Kohoutek | ||
| PLT, CDR | |||
| 1647 | 2.8psi | ||
| 1651 | 1 psi | ||
| 1652 | 0.4 psi | ||
| 1654:52 | HO | ||
| 1700 | PLT Egress | ||
| 1737 | CDR Egress | ||
| 2338? | CDR ingress | ||
| 2347 | PLT ingress | ||
| 2348:00 | HC | ||
| 2350:59 | 0.5 psi | ||
| 2351 Repress 0.7 to 1.5 | |||
| 2353 | 3.2 psi | ||
| 2354 | 4.8 psi | ||
| 1973 Dec 29 | EVA-3, Kohoutek | ||
| SPT PCU 10, UMB 9; CDR Um 16, PCU 16 | |||
| 1722 | 3.5psi | ||
| 1726 | 1 psi | ||
| 1727:35 | 0.5psi | ||
| 1728 | 0.3psi | ||
| 1729 | HO | ||
| 1732 | EV1 out | ||
| 1734? | EV2 out | ||
| 2055? | Ingress | ||
| 2057:54 | HC | ||
| 2100 | 0.2psi | ||
| 2101 | Repress | ||
| 1974 Jan 9 | 93.24 421 x 444 x 50.0 | ||
| 1974 Jan 20 | M509 tests | ||
| 1974 Jan 21 | 1312:00 | CSM RCS trim 0.2m/s 10s | |
| 1974 Feb 3 | SL-4 EVA-4, retrieval | ||
| SPT, CDR | |||
| 1514 | 2.5psi | ||
| 1515 | 1.6psi | ||
| 1518 | 0.4psi | ||
| 1519 | 0.25psi | ||
| 1519 | HO | ||
| 1521 | SPT egress | ||
| 1528 | CDR out | ||
| 2019 | CDR in | ||
| 2037 | SPT in | ||
| 2038 | HC | ||
| 2041 | 0.5psi | ||
| 2041 | Repress | ||
| 1974 Feb 6 | 0641 | 93.24 421 x 444 x 50.0 | |
| 1974 Feb 6 | 2048:00 | Orbit raise 3.7m/s 180s | 93.37 427 x 451 x 50.0 |
| 1974 Feb 8 | 0620 | Hatch closed | |
| 0815 | RCS test | ||
| 1034 | Undocked | ||
| 1974 Feb 9 | Orbital life tests | ||
| 1974 Feb 9 | 2009:25 | end of tx | |
| 1975 Jan 3 | 93.21 420 x 442 x 50.0 | ||
| 1975 Jan 11 | 0800? | S-II-13 reenters over 34N 19W | |
| 1976 Oct 8 | 92.97 410 x 430 x 50.0 | ||
| 1977 Dec 20 | 92.68 398 x 413 x 50.0 | ||
| 1978 Mar 7 | Telemetry on | 92.55 391 x 407 x 50.0 | |
| 1978 Jun 9 | Attitude adjust | 92.27 378 x 392 x 50.0 | |
| 1978 Jul 10 | Attitude adjust | 92.22 376 x 390 x 50.0 | |
| 1978 Jul 19 | Attitude adjust | 92.19 375 x 388 x 50.0 | |
| 1978 Jul 25 | Attitude adjust | 92.18 374 x 387 x 50.0 | |
| 1978 Nov 3 | Attitude adjust, min drag | 92.02 366 x 380 x 50.0 | |
| 1979 Jan 25 | 91.81 358 x 368 x 50.0 | ||
| 1979 Mar 2 | 91.50 342 x 354 x 50.0 | ||
| 1979 May 31 | 90.20 278 x 290 x 50.0 | ||
| 1979 Jun 20 | Torque equalization | ||
| 1979 Jul 4 | 88.98 220 x 227 x 50.0 | ||
| 1979 Jul 11 | 0745 | Sent into tumble | |
| 1544 | Begin entry | ||
| 1611 | Breakup begins over Ascension | ||
| 1632 | Solar panels off | ||
| 1637 | Reentry 31.8S 124.4E | ||
| 1645? | Impact in Western Australia | ||
No comments:
Post a Comment