Prev heroicrelics.org
U.S. Space and Rocket Center Site Index
Skylab Artifacts Gallery
Next

dsc01667.jpg

The sign accompanying a Skylab oxygen tank which survived reentry. It reads


This is the largest recovered piece of the Skylab Space Station that plunged to the Earth in 1979. Skylab, managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, proved that man could live, work, and play in space. This fragment is one of six identical air tanks that were aboard the orbiting laboratory to supply oxygen to the crew. This oxygen tank was recovered in Australia by two men who witnessed its re-entry on July 11. They found the tank and other small debris about 15 miles southwest of the small mining town of Rawlinna.

Before it crashed, the tank was eight feet long, four feet in diameter, and weighed 2800 pounds empty.


A museum in Esperance (on Australia's southern coast and apparently also on Skylab's orbital path) contains various Skylab debris, including another oxygen tank (which seems to be in somewhat better shape than this one). And an oxygen tank also made an appearance at the 1979 Miss Universe pageant, which coincidentally was being held in Australia four days after Skylab's reentry.

 
Sign accompanying Skylab oxygen tank which survived reentry at U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Time picture taken Fri Oct 25 13:54:17 2002
Location picture taken Space Hall
"Old" Museum
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, AL
Prev Skylab Artifacts Gallery Next