July 11, 1979: The Fall of Skylab

July 11, 1979: Skylab falls from Earth orbit, ending its troubled 6-year voyage.

Skylab was launched on May 14, 1973, by the modified Saturn V. The launch is sometimes referred to as Skylab 1. Severe damage was sustained during launch and deployment, including the loss of the station's micrometeoroid shield/sun shade and one of its main solar panels. Debris from the lost micrometeoroid shield further complicated matters by becoming tangled in the remaining solar panel, preventing its full deployment and thus leaving the station with a huge power deficit.

The first crewed mission, Skylab 2, launched on May 25, 1973, atop a Saturn IB, and involved extensive repairs to the station. The crew -- Apollo 12 commander Pete Conrad, Joseph Kerwin and Paul Weitz -- deployed a parasol-like sunshade through a small instrument port from the inside of the station, bringing station temperatures down to acceptable levels and preventing overheating that would have melted the plastic insulation inside the station and released poisonous gases. The crew conducted further repairs via two spacewalks. The crew stayed in orbit with Skylab for 28 days, returning on June 22.

Skylab 3 was launched on July 28, 1973, with Apollo 12 lunar module pilot Alan Bean, Owen Garriott and Jack Lousma. They returned on September 25, having conducted several successful experiments, including one which eventually led to a Nobel Prize.

Skylab 4 was launched on November 16, 1973, with he 1st-ever American spaceflight of more than 1 person to made up entirely of spaceflight rookies: Gerald Carr, Edward Gibson and William Pogue. In fact, this was the only spaceflight for all 3.

But they made up for lost time, not only conducting even more successful experiments than had the Skylab 3 crew, but returning on February 8, 1974, 84 days after arrival, marking the longest U.S. spaceflight ever to that point, the 1st to span a New Year; and the 2nd, after Apollo 8, to include a Christmas Day.

But it was also the last time men were aboard Skylab. The 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission didn't use it. And Americans did not return to space after that until the 1st Space Shuttle, the Columbia, was launched in 1981.

In the interim, it was determined that Skylab's orbit was decaying, and that it would crash into the Indian Ocean, far from any habited place and thus with no risk to humanity, on July 11, 1979. The prediction turned out to be correct.

Skylab was a disappointment, but neither a failure nor a waste: It proved that humanity could stay in space for more than a few days at a time, with no ill effects; and the work done there has benefited humanity in many ways.

For comparison's sake, the Soviet Union did manage to get it right, but their 1st attempt at a permanent space station was even worse than ours. Their space agency, Kosmicheskaya programma, had wanted to launch Salyut 1, the 1st intended-permanent space station, on April 12, 1971, to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the 1st man in space, but had to delay it until April 19. ("Salyut" means "salute" or "fireworks.")

The 1st mission launched toward it, Soyuz 10, was unable to dock with it. Soyuz 11 did, but it malfunctioned upon re-entry to Earth, killing its 3-man crew, still the worst disaster in the history of the Soviet or Russian space program. Kosmicheskaya programma decided to start over, and cut off Salyut 1's support, allowing it to fall to Earth on October 11, not even 6 months later.

Salyut 2 only lasted 55 days in 1973, before malfunctioning and falling to Earth, never having hosted a crew. Salyut 3 was launched in 1974, and lasted 6 months, hosting just 1 successful mission, Soyuz 14. Salyut 4 was also launched in 1974, and lasted 2 years, hosting Soyuz 17 and 18. Salyut 5 was launched in 1976, lasted a little over a year, and hosted Soyuz 21 and 23.

Salyut 6 was launched in 1977, and lasted almost 5 years -- the Soviets' best attempt yet, but still not as long as Skylab. It hosted Soyuz 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 (but not 33, which failed to dock and had to abort its mission).

Salyut 7 topped this by being launched in 1982, and lasted until 1991, almost 9 years. It hosted 6 missions, labeled Soyuz T-5, T-9, T-10, T-13, T-14 and T-15. Soyuz T-15 remains the only spacecraft, from any country, to dock at 2 different space stations: It was the 1st to dock at the Soviets' new Mir, on March 15, 1986; and then became the last to dock at Salyut 7, on May 6.

Mir would be far more successful than either Skylab or the Salyut series, lasting until 2001. By that point, the International Space Station was in use.

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July 11, 1979 was a Wednesday. These Major League Baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees fell apart almost as badly as Skylab did, losing to the Seattle Mariners, 16-1 at the Kingdome in Seattle. No matter how good or bad either team was, the Yankees never seemed to do well at the Kingdome, where the Mariners played from their 1977 inception until their move to Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) in 1999.

The M's scored 9 runs in the 1st inning, shelling veteran Tommy John and prospect Ken Clay. They got home runs from Ruppert Jones, Bruce Bochte and Leon Roberts. Floyd Bannister went the distance for the win, allowing only 3 hits: A home run by Lou Piniella, and singles by Thurman Munson and Willie Randolph. Reggie Jackson went 0-for-2 with a walk.

* The New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3 at Shea Stadium. John Stearns singled home Lee Mazzilli in the bottom of the 10th inning. Elliott Maddox went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

* The San Francisco Giants beat the Montreal Expos, 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The only run of the game came on a home run by Mike Ivie in the top of the 7th. John Curtis pitched a 4-hit shutout.

* The San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-3 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Padres got home runs from Dave Winfield, Gene Tenace and Jerry Turner. The Phillies got one from Garry Maddox. Mike Schmidt went 1-for-5 with an RBI. Pete Rose drew a walk as a pinch-hitter.

* The Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

* The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-1 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Robin Yount tripled home the winning run in the top of the 10th inning.

* The Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals, 9-8 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. George Brett went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs.

* The Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Johnny Bench went 1-for-4. Lou Brock went 0-for-4.

* The Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers, 3-0 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Darrell Jackson had a 4-hit shutout going after 6 innings, but allowed a double and a walk in the bottom of the 7th, and manager Gene Mauch panicked and brought in Pete Redfern. He finished the 6-hit shutout. In contrast, Sparky Anderson, in his 1st year managing the Tigers after being known as "Captain Hook" for his frequently relieving of pitchers while managing in Cincinnati, led Jack Morris pitch a complete game, but while he only allowed 3 hits, he was the losing pitcher.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers, 5-3 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros, 5-1 at the Astrodome in Houston. Willie Stargell and Dave Parker hit home runs.

* The Boston Red Sox beat the California Angels, 9-3 at Anaheim Stadium (now Angel Stadium of Anaheim). They did this despite Carl Yastrzemski going 0-for-5.

* And the Baltimore Orioles beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-1, in front of only 2,586 fans at the Oakland Coliseum. Eddie Murray went 3-for-4 with a solo home run.