Skylab

georgeniebling · Jul 6, 2006

Yeah, I know this has likely been hashed around these parts but .... I'm just too darn lazy to look for it. Would it be *theoretically* possible to: restore the Skylab in the Smithsonian to flightworthy status - ie, seal the gaping hole in its side and use some next generation to boost it ....

nibb31 · Jul 6, 2006

What for? It's basically just a tin can that wasn't even built for the purpose. It would be cheaper to build another tin can.

lampblack · Jul 6, 2006

ummm... Skylab fell from orbit. Plans called for it to be boosted by the shuttle. But the shuttle took too long in development, and the Skylab came tumbling down like the sky on Chicken Little's head. Maybe they have a replica in the Smithsonian? If the original craft were in the Smithsonian (gaping hole and all), one suspects it'd be simpler and less expensive to just build a new station with 21st century avionics and whatnot. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Just tell the truth and let the chips fall... </div>

Boris_Badenov · Jul 6, 2006

Ba330 modules are alot better anyway. BTW, I saw Skylab fall, it looked like paint running down a window for several minutes, then just disapeared. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div> </div>

lampblack · Jul 6, 2006

BTW, I saw Skylab fall, it looked like paint running down a window for several minutes, then just disapeared. Way cool! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Just tell the truth and let the chips fall... </div>

drwayne · Jul 6, 2006

The Skylab in the museum is the backup/Skylab 2. At one point, there was a plan to fly it as well. The thing to keep in mind is that Skylab was a proof-of-principle type of craft, built with hardware that was conenient, it was in no way optimized for the role of long term space station... Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything." Admiral Jackie Fisher </div>

willpittenger · Jul 6, 2006

In fact one thing we learned from Skylab was that it was too roomy. Sound counterintuitive? Astronauts had problems getting around inside. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

drwayne · Jul 6, 2006

Yep, there was a lot of wasted space in the middle. It was failrly late in the process that they decided to go with a "Dry Lab" approach, rather than setting up a spent stage... Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything." Admiral Jackie Fisher </div>

nacnud · Jul 6, 2006

Too roomy isn't a problem a bit of canvas and some ropes wouldn't fix. Why build storage out of metal when fabric is lighter?

qso1 · Jul 6, 2006

People complain that the shuttle is thirty year old technology and should be retired accordingly while proposing to ressurect thirty five plus year old technology. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

vulture2 · Jul 6, 2006

Since we are about to scrap the ISS after spending $100B on it, the chance for a new space station is about nil. That said, space station modules are sized for the launcher. Skylab was the right size for the Saturn V.

qso1 · Jul 7, 2006

Were not quite to the point of scrapping the ISS. The shuttle is scheduled to retire in 2010 but ISS will continue if all goes per plan and CEV takes over where shuttle left off as far as crew access to ISS. Skylab was definetely the right size for the Saturn-V. And a station project beyond ISS by NASA anyway is highly unlikely. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

earth_bound_misfit · Jul 7, 2006

Recovery of pieces of Skylab in Western Australia, 1979. Photo of Recovery of pieces of Skylab in Western Australia, 1979. http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/ The 82 tonne Skylab space station re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 11th July 1979 and parts of it hit the Earth in Western Australia. Many large pieces were retrieved. Skylab had been launched on 14th May 1973 and was visited by three 3-man crews between May 1973 and February 1974 during its operational lifetime. I guess this was the toilet. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?Go here to see how: SDC Eye saver </div>

drwayne · Jul 7, 2006

"Skylab was the right size for the Saturn V." Being a modified SIVB, it was the perfect size. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything." Admiral Jackie Fisher </div>

vogon13 · Jul 7, 2006

I have a piece of fibreglas from a nitrogen tank. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!So many people, so few recipes !!Let's clean up this stinkhole !! </div>

radarredux · Jul 7, 2006

> Since we are about to scrap the ISS after spending $100B on it, the chance for a new space station is about nil./i> The chance for a US Government funded space station may be low, but the chance for another space station is fairly high. China's Shenzhou's forward orbital module provides a quick and simple space station capability, remaining in orbit long after the capsule has returned to Earth. I've read where China has though about docking two or more together to create a more capable orbital facility. And then there is Bigelow Aerospace which is building private space stations; the first prototype is suppose to fly this month. These are designed to go up in a single launch, so in this aspect they are more similar to Skylab than the complicated construction approach of ISS. So, I think ISS is probably the last US Government space station, but I think there will be more on the horizon.

radarredux · Jul 7, 2006

> These are designed to go up in a single launch, so in this aspect they are more similar to Skylab than the complicated construction approach of ISS./i> I want to correct this. At Bigelow's recently revised web site are some promotional image showing larger space stations composed of multiple Bigelow units. Perhaps even more interesting are the first two images -- they look like something right out of Fox Mulder's office. The first is a "I Believe" picture, and the second is a classical big-eyed alien logo over the Bigelow company logo. I have heard this guy believes in aliens, so I guess he really is putting his money where his passion is. http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/images/wallpaper/i_believe_small.jpg http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/multiverse/images/wallpaper/alien_small.jpg

Swampcat · Jul 7, 2006

Another point that should be made regarding Bigelow is that he is not specifically building space stations. He is building inflatable modules that can be outfitted and combined to construct a space station. IOW, there's more to a space station than a single Ba-330. It's interesting though that two Ba-330's have more habitable volume than the current ISS. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

JonClarke · Jul 7, 2006

There are large bits of Skylab at the Balladonia roadhouse on the Nullabor and Esperance community museum on the south coast of WA. Certainly not things I would want crashing through the roof. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

qso1 · Jul 7, 2006

One could build single module stations some of which could dock together to form a two or three module station, each having specific purposes. This would have been possible even in 1992 when space station Freedom was still being proposed. The current method of using shuttle to construct ISS has proven very expensive in terms of shuttle flight costs ($500 mil each). Heavy lifters would have been better suited to send station components up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

spacester · Jul 8, 2006

Does anybody know yet how autonomous the Bigelow modules will be? What systems will they lack in terms of being full-fledged space stations? IIRC, the full size unit is planned to be a full-fledged station on its own, right? Not for permanent occupancy, maybe for occasional visits; not a 'space hotel' so much as 'orbital outpost / micro-g lab / factory'? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Swampcat · Jul 8, 2006

qso1: "One could build single module stations some of which could dock together to form a two or three module station..." spacester: "Does anybody know yet how autonomous the Bigelow modules will be? What systems will they lack in terms of being full-fledged space stations?" Perhaps the picture below is better than my words. It's my understanding that this is the basic space station configuration. From what I've read, Bigelow is working on a life support system for his modules, but expects other necessary systems (propulsion, station keeping, power generation, etc.) to be provided by other modular elements supposedly purchased from or supplied by other companies. This was the point I was trying to make earlier...that the BA-330, by itself, is not a space station. It can however provide the core habitable space for such a station. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

spacester · Jul 10, 2006

Well that's a reasonable conclusion and what I came up with myself but it doesn't make sense to me from a business standpoint. Mr. Bigelow is just going to *hope* that somebody else builds that stuff? If his modules need more capability to be useful at all, and that capability is not done by Bigelow, he no longer is in control of his own business! That just does not add up for me. Is it a matter of timing - these other modules can be purchased COTS or quickly developed when the time comes, so not to worry for now? Is he waiting to see if someone else steps up to the plate, and if no one shows up, he'll do it himself? That's my best guess. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

qso1 · Jul 10, 2006

Nice graphic, did you do that? If so, what program? And yep, graphics tend to explain things better than just words. The old pictures worth adage. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> My borrowed quote for the time being:There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened. </div>

Swampcat · Jul 10, 2006

"Is he waiting to see if someone else steps up to the plate, and if no one shows up, he'll do it himself? That's my best guess." My recollection is that he has talked to other contractors (Russians IIRC) about providing things like docking and propulsion modules and solar panel arrays. I think he sees himself as the building contractor. He provides a basic building shell then purchases the other necessary parts from other manufacturers. Kinda like a builder buying HVAC equipment to add to his building and paying for water and electrical hookups, etc. The builder doesn't manufacture the HVAC equipment or provide the power generation facilities. He's also not going to build a transportation system to get crews and cargo to these stations. That's what America's Space Prize is about. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Skylab

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