Skylab Collection

Collection

Identifier: MC-12

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Papers, pamphlets, books, interviews, view graphs, multi-fold charts, an annotated Skylab film catalog, photographs, letters, binders, folders, clippings, models, awards, a medallion, coffee cups, mission patches, color prints, a lithographic print

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1970 - 1972

Creator

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1958-) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research in the Archives & Special Collections reading room. Handling guidelines and use restrictions will be communicated and enforced by archives staff members.

Conditions Governing Use

This material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though the University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.”

Biographical / Historical

Skylab was the first space station operated by NASA; it was launched without a crew on May 14, 1973. Skylab had three manned missions: Skylab 2, launched May 25, 1973, lasting 28 days, Skylab 3, launched July 28, 1973, lasting 60 days, and Skylab 4, launched November 16, 1973, lasting 84 days. Crews on Skylab conducted a variety of experiments during their missions, including experiments in human physiology, circadian rhythms, solar physics and astronomy, and material sciences. Important earth resources studies were conducting including studies on geology, hurricanes, and land and vegetation patterns.

Two of the more important components for conducting research on Skylab were the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) and the Earth Resources Experiment Package (EREP). The ATM was a multi-spectral solar observatory, and NASA’s first full-scale manned astronomical observatory in space. The ATM yielded a significant number of images and provided useful data for understanding our sun. The EREP provided thousands of images of the Earth’s surface in visible, infrared, and microwave spectral regions.

Skylab remained in orbit, unoccupied after the Skylab 4 mission, until July 11, 1973, when the space station reentered Earth’s atmosphere.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab#Manned_missions

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_skylab1.html

https://history.nasa.gov/SP-402/ch4.htm

Extent

10 Linear feet (30 boxes + 7 binders.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Leland F. Belew, 2003.

Existence and Location of Copies

View digitized items from this collection

Processing Information

Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, and competing priorities. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.