View from the Perimeter Road of Skylab 2 Saturn IB (CSM-116/SA-206) on LC-37B as the sun sets. SL-2 was launched the next day.

Date: May 24, 1973

Skylab II Saturn IB (CSM-116/SA-206) rollout from VAB to LC-39B.

Date: February 26, 1973

The Apollo 17 Spacecraft (CSM-114/LM-12/SLA-21) (right) crosses paths with the S-IB and S-IVB stage for Saturn IB (SA-206), intended for the first manned Skylab mission (SL-2).

Date: August 23, 1972

"The Skylab 2 crew, consisting of astronauts Charles Conrad Jr., Joseph P. Kerwin and Paul J. Weitz, inside the command module atop a Saturn IB launch vehicle, heads toward the Skylab space station in Earth orbit.

The command module was inserted into Earth orbit approximately 10 minutes after liftoff. The three represent the first of three crews who will spend record-setting durations for human beings in space, while performing a variety of experiments."

The mission patch was designed by Kelly Freas, a well-known artist highly regarded in the science fiction community, who was suggested to NASA by science fiction author and editor Ben Bova. The insignia features Skylab above the earth with the sun in the background. In an article for Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact magazine, Freas said, 'Among the suggestions the astronauts had made was the idea of a solar eclipse as seen from Skylab. It soon became clear that this idea would solve several problems at once: it pointed up the solar study function of Skylab, it would give me the large circular shape of the Earth as counterpoint to the angularity of the cluster, and it would establish firmly the connection of Skylab to the Earth. In addition, it would give a chance to get the necessary high contrast for good visibility of the tiny finished patch. ... I made several studies of cloud patterns on the planet, reducing them finally to very conventionalized swirls. The Skylab cluster was simplified and simplified again, till it became simply a black form with a white edgelight to set it off.'"

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Date: May 25, 1973

NASA ID: 7041151, 7041152, KSC-73P-0351, S73-27096, S73-27095, S72-52630

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"This illustration depicts the Skylab-1 and Skylab-2 mission sequence. The goals of the Skylab were to enrich our scientific knowledge of the Earth, the Sun, the stars, and cosmic space; to study the effects of weightlessness on living organisms, including man; to study the effects of the processing and manufacturing of materials utilizing the absence of gravity; and to conduct Earth resource observations. The Skylab also conducted 19 selected experiments submitted by high school students. Skylab's 3 different 3-man crews spent up to 84 days in Earth orbit. The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) had responsibility for developing and integrating most of the major components of the Skylab: the Orbital Workshop (OWS), Airlock Module (AM), Multiple Docking Adapter (MDA), Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), Payload Shroud (PS), and most of the experiments. MSFC was also responsible for providing the Saturn IB launch vehicles for three Apollo spacecraft and crews and a Saturn V launch vehicle for the Skylab."

Date: 1971

"Prior to launch in May 1973, the Skylab space station, foreground, awaits liftoff atop a Saturn V on the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A. To the north, is the Saturn 1B with an Apollo command-service module being prepared to launch the first crew to Skylab."

Date: May 4, 1973

"Double Exposure - Size Difference Between Skylab (SL-1) and (SL-2) - KSC

A deliberate double exposure to help illustrate the comparative sizes and configurations of the Skylab-1 and Skylab-2 space vehicles at Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The double exposure creates an illusion that the rockets are side by side, though actually they are one and a half miles apart. The Skylab 1/Saturn V space vehicle on Pad A is on the left. On the right is the Skylab 2/Saturn IB space vehicle on Pad B. The Skylab 1 payload is the space station cluster. The Skylab 2 payload will be an Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) with astronauts Charles Conrad Jr., Joseph P. Kerwin and Paul J. Weitz aboard. The Saturn V launch vehicle is composed of a Saturn V first (S-IC) stage, a Saturn V second (S-II) stage, and the Skylab payload. The Saturn IB launch vehicle consists of a Saturn-IB first (S-IB) stage, a Saturn-IVB second (S-IVB) stage, and the CSM payload including its launch escape system."

Date: May 7, 1973