posted 07-24-2006 09:30 PM               

Skylab Restoration Project

In 1968 NASA ordered two identical flight qualified space stations (Skylab) built along with 3 full scale training mockups. One flight version, the 1st US Space Station was flown in 1973 and orbited the Earth until 1979; the second flight element is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum. One full scale mockup, used by astronauts and engineers at MSFC during the 3 crewed Skylab missions (73-74) was on display for many years at the US Space and Rocket Center (USRC) located in Huntsville Alabama. Several years ago the Skylab exhibit was moved outside. The original temporary weather coverings have failed and Skylab has suffered the effects of rain, sun, wind, plants, dust/dirt, mold, animals and vandals. Right now the Skylab artifact is nearing a point of no return.

To save Skylab the Alabama/Mississippi section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) started the Skylab Restoration Project (SRP). AIAA is seeking volunteers to help save this unique part the US Space Program.

Our 1st effort will be to stabilize the situation and remove (save) as much historic material as possible. Each volunteer will be given a US Space and Rocket Center Volunteer badge (24/7 access). We hope to start work in the next 10 days.

posted 07-25-2006 10:57 AM               

I am so excited to hear that this is getting started. What a much-needed project!

posted 07-26-2006 09:15 AM               

At the recent Saturn/Apollo reunion, there was discussion of the fact that the Saturn V here was in better shape when the renovation began than the one at JSC had been, and it's been on display longer.

In addition, the Saturn V has been restored, and a multimillion-dollar project to better preserve it is well underway.

So I don't know that that's an entirely fair criticism.

Skylab rotting in the parking lot, though -- yeah, that's just pathetic.

posted 08-06-2006 02:20 PM               

On the site they are posting updates to their work and photographs from the Skylab 1G Trainer (including archival images of its original appearance).

From their initial restoration plan:

Our 1st effort is to stop any further damage. To do this we are removing as much experiment hardware as we can. We are seeking a Tyvek cover (30 feet in diameter) to cover the top of the Primary deck and keep the rain out. We are also working to arrest the mold and rust. About 30% of the training mock-up is made of wood and most has suffered damage or been destroyed. We will remove, store and save all we can. We will remove all the Beta cloth from the 1st deck (hot air ducting, sleep quarters partitions).

Next June Skylab (it's elements) will be moved into the new Saturn V building.

posted 08-10-2006 09:20 AM               

(My favorite part of the new story: "The trainer is basically part a former Saturn rocket. It's shaped like a enormous beer can.")

posted 10-13-2006 06:59 PM               

Donate $100 (tax deductible) to the Skylab Restoration Project and we will send you a flight qualified Solar Cell.

posted 11-20-2006 11:38 PM               

November 19, 2006

We received news Friday that Skylab will not go indoors for the next 2 years. This leaves use out in the cold (literally). We are still on schedule to be completed with our restoration efforts by June 2007. In work now are efforts to understand how we can preserve Skylab while in remains outside for the additional year, We need to develop methods to keep the humidity down, water out, mold under control and the animals away. We have also been asked by the Space and Rocket Center to raise $20,000 to buy them a building to hold Skylab. This is beyond our plan and well beyond what money we have raised to save the Skylab space station 1-G trainer. If you would like to donate $20,000 they will put your name, the name of your company, etc on the side of it forever. If you are interested please send me an email. On the restoration front we successful closed the MDA to Airlock pressure hatch (the seals and latches still worked!) We removed several lockers and storage boxes from the MDA and scraped away a considerable amount of lose and pealing paint away. We found about 6 inches of rain on the roof of the 1st deck that we removed (we had a few good storms this past week). If not for our efforts to restore and protect the 1st deck and install a covering on it that 6 inches of rain would be sitting in the bottom Skylab, in lockers, systems and on structures. Just as it did for over 7 years. Painting is behind schedule. We hope the painters will show up this week. This 1-g trainer is important, one of two left in the world. By June next year it will be the best.

posted 12-02-2006 11:24 PM               

The US Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) made a surprise announcement today. As of December 1, 2006 they started a Skylab preservation effort of there own. Ours is concluded as of today. This announcement was the reason for the surprise request Thursday by the USSRC to bring back Skylab structures and systems volunteers have been refurbishing, cleaning and rebuilding. Once the USSRC formally establishes plans, process, procedures and methods we will be welcome to take part again (as members of the USSRC team). As of today no further work will take place on Skylab until the spring of 2007.

This will prevent completion of our planned restoration of Skylab by June of 2007. A new estimated date for completion of the restoration of Skylab by the USSRC is not yet determined.

This effort was a lot of fun. People learned how crewed spacecraft where built a generation ago, held history in there hands, made an impact and save US and Alabama space history for the future.

I know our efforts are appreciated. If not for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), United Space Alliance (USA), the people who have volunteered time every Saturday for the last 6 months and donated money/supplies the Skylab 1-g trainer would be a lost cause.

In the past 4 months we have:

• Cleaned and restored 85% of the 1st deck, compartments and lockers
  
• Cleaned, repaired and restored 80% of the structure and assemblies in the 1st deck
  
• Replaced/repaired wooden structures for the 1st deck
  
• Cleaned and repaired beta cloth
  
• Cleaned the crew shower
  
• Cleaned the lower-body negative pressure experiment
  
• Cleaned crew intercoms
  
• Found and installed a replacement crew freezer for the wardroom (the original was destroyed by water and weather)
  
• Cleaned the crew sleep area equipment
  
• Hand scrubbed the sub flooring thru the deck grating (this involved using a small brush, water, cleaner and a shop vacuum. Going from grid to grid it took over 2 hours to clean 3 sq. ft.), and
  
• Restored many, many small systems and structures

We fixed the MDA airlock hatches, closed the airlock EVA hatch and started to clean and remove debris form the MDA structure.

We discovered unique historic items. As an example we found the 6-pack rate gyros a Skylab crew test fitted in the MDA prior to replacing them on orbit in Skylab.

Our volunteers consisted of college students, recent graduates, engineers, scientist, technicians, managers and trades people. In short, the good people of Alabama. I hope everyone will take part again next year when the USSRC is ready. REMEMBER, you made a difference, you saved history.

posted 06-27-2007 09:27 AM               

She's Just Rotting Away
June 27, 2007

The USSRC Skylab Restoration Effort is still on hold. Nothing has been done in 7 months to save her. This bit of US space history just keeps rotting away.

The USSRC wants $2,000,000 dollars for a new building before work to save Skylab can start again. In not much time little will be worth saving. They need to move Skylab (the space she sits now will be a parking lot for the new Saturn V Building). The location is TBD. They taped up the MDA today but the weather covering on the 1st deck has failed again exposing it to rain, dust, etc.

The USSRC is looking for $2,000,000 to erect a new Shuttle building (they have the USAF temp shelter to be used if an Orbiter ever had to land after an emergency in an area without facilities, like from a TAL) in hopes of getting an orbiter (they have talked about getting for the Enterprise from the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles VA). With 3 flight Orbiters available in 2.5 years, it's sure one will go to JSC, one will stay at KSC and one will go to the National Air and Space Museum Annex in Dulles VA.

Maybe the chance of an Orbiter is more important than Skylab, maybe not. We are going to ask the BOD of a major National Technical Society if they will fund the new building. But no promises.

posted 06-29-2007 05:20 PM               

Several years ago, the USSRC moved the one-of-a-kind Skylab mock-up from the museum interior into a parking lot.

Last summer, Tom Hancock organized a restoration effort which included the hard work of several volunteers (see above) as well as individual financial contributors.

Approximately six months ago, the USSRC stopped the volunteer effort because they had decided to take over the restoration effort.

Since then, the USSRC has done nothing but allow the Skylab mock-up to continue to deteriorate in the parking lot.

posted 07-05-2007 10:41 AM               

Skylab not forgotten, say center officials

Thongsay Vongpaseuth can remember the inspiration that put her on the path to being an aerospace engineer: It was in the mid-1980s as a Space Camp attendee and seeing the full mock-up of Dr. Wernher von Braun's last major project with NASA - Skylab - looming over the U.S. Space & Rocket Center display floor.

Now, the Skylab trainer is in pieces, exposed and adjacent to the main rocket park of the Space Center. The one-of-a-kind craft is being slowly worn away by weather damage and it has become a home for birds and rodents.

Space is considered the final frontier by science fiction and NASA buffs, but for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center the expansion of museum space has to be met to bolster public interest, rocket center managers said Tuesday.

Thousands of space artifacts, unique blueprints and Apollo-era drawings along with personal memorabilia donated by retired aerospace workers wait in storage for the day when the space heritage can be displayed properly, said U.S. Space & Rocket Center CEO Larry Capps.

posted 02-17-2008 02:34 PM               

Skylab Will Soon Be Lost
It's been a year since the temporary weather cover blew off about 1/3 of the 1st deck.

We have asked the USSRC pull it back in place (it will take one person with a ladder and about 10 min to accomplish). We had the 1st deck 80% restored. With significant construction next to this historic artifact and weather all our work to save Skylab is undone. We hope someday efforts are made to save Skylab while the shell still remains intact.

posted 02-21-2008 11:13 AM            

The Skylab mockup is sitting just off of the east parking lot, about 100 yards from the end of the new Davidson Center. They've got their largest triumph sitting right next to a rather large embarrassment.

I talked to a guard at the USSRC who had been working there for about 15 years. He remembered having to chase out visitors who would try to hide in Skylab when it was in the main museum. He wanted to see the mockup moved back inside, especially as items are moved from the main museum to the Davidson Center.

On the one hand, I want to give the USSRC the benefit of the doubt. Money doesn't just magically appear, and they need a considerable amount to mount a full restoration effort. And yet, they could save themselves money by sending an employee and a ladder out to the parking lot. It just doesn't make sense.

posted 02-22-2008 12:10 AM               

Volunteers did a terrific job to start with, but perhaps now is the time for a professional crew to take on the more demanding aspects.

I can fully understand a restoration project on this scale takes a great deal of money.

Perhaps the Centre does not wish to detract from other fund-raising activities with a call to save Skylab; that is understandable.

But why let the work that has been done degrade, and drive the costs of professional restoration up by failing to offer the most basic of environmental protection?

posted 03-07-2008 08:21 PM               

Almost 8 years ago, the US Space and Rocket Center moved the original Skylab 1-g trainer (full of equipment) into a parking lot. It sat abandoned. For 6 months in 2006 volunteers worked to save Skylab. In December 2006 that worked was stopped by the USSRC and no additional efforts made to save Skylab.

In March of 2007 the temporary weather cover put in place by the volunteers was blown off one third of the low deck during a storm. Despite repeated requests to the curator and CEO of the US Space and Rocket Center, no effort has been made to pull the weather cover back in place. It's now been one year. This is blind neglect of a historic space artifact.

Help save Skylab by writing to the Governor of Alabama. Ask that he take efforts to save Skylab. One person with a ladder could put the weather cover on the lower deck in 10 min and help stop further damage until a full restoration can someday begin.

Governor Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130

posted 03-08-2008 01:18 AM               

I chose Disaster Assistance

It seemed appropriate because it will be a disaster if the Skylab Trainer is left outside any longer.

posted 05-19-2008 05:32 PM               

The text on the base of the display reads:

Skylab Training Module

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is home to one of the three full-scale training modules built for Skylab, America's first space station. This module was used for training by astronauts and engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center during the Skylab missions. The Skylab training module is currently awaiting restoration.

posted 05-19-2008 06:14 PM            

I think it's important to put the USSRC in some sort of financial context. I remember a time in the mid-late 90's where there was talk of the Center closing due to financial strain. That they've been able to do this much is a testament to their management. And the Davidson Center and restored Saturn V should be a source of optimism for the Center's future.

posted 05-19-2008 07:10 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Meek:
In a perfect world, there'd be no shortage of funding to preserve these artifacts.

---

So this wasn't so much a funding choice as a (in my opinion) rather odd sense of priorities. And, by the (off-the-record) admission of many at the center, in hindsight it was a bad decision.

posted 05-19-2008 11:22 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by FFrench:
this artifact was well preserved on indoor display in the museum, and had been for decades... until it was decided to move it outside and replace it with, as I understand it, a newly-constructed mockup of a part of the Mir space station

---

If memory serves (and I was in junior high school at the time, so it may not), the Mir station was part of an overall Russian exhibit. I remember it being in there with the Skylab mockup, to the outside wall where the V2 and LM trainer are now. The addition of the Apollo displays, LM trainer, V2 rocket, and various engines crowded the main floor enough that something had to go.

posted 05-22-2008 10:50 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Meek:
I, too would've put the Mir mockup outside rather than Skylab.

---

posted 07-14-2008 02:40 PM            

Also, it looks like the USSRC is shifting things in the main museum to re-accommodate Skylab. All of the rocket engines formerly in the main museum have been moved to their appropriate stages next to the Saturn V in the Davidson Center. I'm unsure what will happen to Casper (Apollo 16), the CM/LM trainers, and the V-2. However, that group of artifacts will have to move to the Davidson Center, or the Mir mockup will have to move in order to fit Skylab easily.

posted 11-25-2008 10:04 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Meek:
I'm unsure what will happen to Casper (Apollo 16),

---