Idaho Skies Transcript for February 8th and 9th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for February 8th and 9th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
On the February 8th, 1974, the crew of Skylab 4 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean

PAUL
It marked the end of Skylab, America’s first space station.

RACHEL
The crew of Skylab 4 spend 84 days onboard Skylab.

PAUL
The mission almost didn’t happen, because Skylab suffered a serious failure shortly after launch.

RACHEL
The accident happened when one of its solar panel deployed during ascent to orbit.

PAUL
Aerodynamic forces acting on Skylab ripped off the solar panel clean off the space station.

RACHEL
Along with a solar panel, the space station’s micrometeoroid shield was also torn off.

PAUL
On reaching low Earth orbit, Skylab’s second solar panel was unable to deploy because of debris caught in it.

RACHEL
Since the micrometeoroid shield also protected Skylab from exposure to the sun, the temperature inside the station began to climb dangerously high

PAUL
The crew of Skylab 2 fixed the initial problems of Skylab and then started a 28 day program of Earth and human observation.

RACHEL
The final crew spent more time onboard Skylab and even collected images of comet Kohoutek

PAUL
Skylab 4 has the notoriety of beginning the first strike by astronauts.

RACHEL
The astronauts went on strike because mission control tried to work the astronauts too hard and for too long.

PAUL
The three astronauts went on a 24 hour strike to protest.

RACHEL
So mission control changed their work schedule and the astronauts completed even more work than initially planned.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 8th and 9th of February.

RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.