Word: skylab
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...time Skylab reached orbit, NASA controllers were sure that it was in trouble. As the 85-ton spacecraft began circling the earth, it jettisoned its protective shroud, moved its telescope mount into place and unfolded the four windmill-like solar wings that sit above it. But indications were that the remaining solar wing on the Orbital Workshop could not swing out more than a few degrees from the ship and was thus not able to unfold its light-gathering panels. That was bad news indeed. It meant that Skylab was deprived of more than half its electrical power. Even...
...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's exterior rose to 325°, engineers feared that the skin itself might buckle or even rupture...
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...
After two days of experimentation, mission controllers found a compromise position for Skylab. When it was tilted so that its solar panels were at an angle of 55° to the direction of the sun's rays, adequate power was produced and the temperature in the Orbital Workshop stabilized close to a tolerable...
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...