Word: nasa
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Fierce Heat. The worst was still to come. Without the shield, temperatures inside the Orbital Workshop-site of the crew quarters-soared dramatically, climbing to 130° F. and higher. The fierce heat endangered the foodstores, especially the new gravy-rich dishes of which NASA is so proud. It may well have fogged sensitive film and ruined medical supplies. There was also danger that the extreme heat would begin to decompose the Styrofoam insulation in the spacecraft's walls, producing potentially lethal gases inside the workshop. Finally, as the temperature of the unprotected aluminum "bald spot" on Skylab...
...extent of the damage became clear, there were angry recriminations within NASA. Officials feared that the monumental goof would goad Congress into cutting off funds for manned space flight. TIME Correspondent John Wilhelm subsequently learned that the troublesome shield was new and untried, and had repeatedly caused problems during its development. Parts had failed at least four different tests. The shield was apparently plagued by an extreme flutter when subjected to the stresses of launch. Though aware of the shield's shortcomings, NASA decided to use it anyway, mainly to save a few million dollars in additional development costs...
...While NASA engineers and flight controllers struggled desperately to save the mission, conditions aboard Skylab deteriorated and the launch of the three astronauts was delayed. First priority was given to finding a way to cool off the Orbital Workshop (other sections of the spacecraft remained at a normal 65° or 70°). Maneuvering the spacecraft with its thrusters, flight controllers in Houston turned the exposed area away from the sun. But by doing that they also changed the angle of the four working solar wings, which reduced their exposure to sunlight and dangerously lowered the production of electrical power...
Others suggested inflating a balloon to shade the craft, or spray painting the affected area. Eventually, NASA seemed to be settling on a different solution: the astronauts would try to shield Skylab with a tissue-thin, aluminized sail-like sheet of Mylar, a plastic film...
...tricky orbital repairs will not be without danger. But NASA technicians and engineers have worked overtime to prepare all the special tools, gears and awnings that will be needed. The Skylab astronauts have flown to Huntsville, where they have run repeated trials of the repair procedures in the simulated zero-G conditions of NASA'S water test tank. Indeed, the intense feeling among NASA'S rank and file reminded Astronaut John Swigert Jr. of the remarkable effort that enabled him and his Apollo 13 crew mates to bring their crippled spacecraft safely back to earth after an explosion...