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Orbital Workshop, Skylab, Backup Flight Unit

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co.
Summary
The orbital workshop is the largest component of Skylab, America's first space station. It houses the living quarters, work and storage areas, research equipment, and most of the supplies needed to support a succession of three-man crews. Two complete Skylab space stations were manufactured and equipped for flight, and one was launched into Earth orbit in May 1973. After the Skylab program was canceled as effort shifted to Space Shuttle development, NASA transferred the backup Skylab to the National Air and Space Museum in 1975. On display in the Museum's Space Hall since 1976, the orbital workshop has been slightly modified to permit viewers to walk through the living quarters.
Alternate Name
Skylab Orbital Workshop
Key Accomplishment(s)
America's First Space Station
Brief Description
The orbital workshop is the largest component of Skylab. It housed living quarters, work and storage areas, research equipment, and supplies needed to support a succession of three-man crews. This is one of two complete Skylab space stations manufactured.
Credit Line
Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19761033000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed
Materials
Structure: various metals, primarily aluminum
Dimensions
Overall: 48 ft. tall x 21 ft. 7 1/16 in. diameter, 78000 lb. (1463.04 x 658.02cm, 35380.6kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19761033000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e2044a5e-a0a1-49ed-be77-4c0e69cded6b

Related Content

  • 1973: A Year in the Collections

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    Air and Space Museum
Full view of a blue, white, and silver cylindrical structure. The white and blue sections are textured.
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
Full view of a blue, white, and silver cylindrical structure. The white and blue sections are textured.

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