This Smithsonian Snapshot marks the May 14, 1973, launch of
Skylab, America’s first space station.
Launched by NASA in 1973, Skylab orbited the Earth until
1979. The orbital workshop in this photo is the largest component of Skylab. It
housed the living quarters, work and storage areas, research equipment and most
of the supplies needed to support a succession of three-man crews.
Skylab crews performed nearly 300 different scientific and
technical experiments. One major objective was to study how well humans could
adapt to zero gravity and spend long periods of time in space.