Skylab Launch

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Skylab 1 launch Source: NASA

May 14, 1998–Marks the 25th anniversary of the first Skylab launch. During this unmanned mission, the 77-ton space station's orbit began to deteriorate faster than expected, owing to unexpectedly high sunspot activity. On July 11, 1979, the parts of Skylab that did not burn up in the atmosphere came crashing down on parts of Australia and the Indian Ocean. No one was hurt.

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