International Day of Human Space Flight 2024 is on Friday, April 12, 2024: How did Sky Lab influence Space Exploration?

Friday, April 12, 2024 is International Day of Human Space Flight 2024. Celebration of Human Space Flight Celebration of Human Space

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How did Sky Lab influence Space Exploration?

Skylab accomplishments:

Attention focused on scientific data gathered by Skylab.

Experiments ------------------- Total Hours

Solar Astronomy -------------- 941.3

Earth Observations ----------- 569.4

Student --------------------------- 29.3

Astrophysics -------------------- 274.2

Man/Systems ------------------ 212.5

Material Science ---------------- 29.7

Life Science ---------------------824.5

Comet Observation ------------156.0

EVA time ------------------------- 42.2

Skylab's role was information gathering for future space exploration. Skylab's groundbreaking scientific research laid substantial groundwork for future space ventures. Much of its potential is now being realized with the International Space Station (ISS). Skylab was the basis for a modern space station. Much of the research and technology that makes the ISS possible was still just theory prior to launch of Skylab. Skylab also proved that astronauts could conduct valuable research in orbit. Skylab proved that the human body can stay weightless for a very long time. Skylab crews also helped develop countermeasures to help astronauts better endure long-duration flights.

Due to the extremely meticulous evaluation and recording, some of the Skylab medical data is still the definitive research on effects of spaceflight exposure.

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SPACESHIP SKYLAB: WINGS OF DISCOVERY (9 Minute Video)

Skylab - The First 40 Days (23 Minute Video)

LEGACY OF SKYLAB (9 Minute Video)

When Skylab was launched, the mission was designated “Skylab 1.” The first crew to arrive at Skylab was designated “SL-2,” the second crew “SL-3” and the third crew “SL-4.”

The third Skylab crew went into space on Nov. 16 and splashed down in February 1974, setting a new endurance record demonstrating man’s ability to live and work in space for extended periods of time.

Are the Americans ever going back into space?

Are the Americans ever going back into space?

The Future

The end of the space shuttle program does not mean the end of NASA, or even of NASA sending humans into space. NASA has a robust program of exploration, technology development and scientific research that will last for years to come. Here is what's next for NASA:

NASA is designing and building the capabilities to send humans to explore the solar system, working toward a goal of landing humans on Mars.

The International Space Station is fully staffed with a crew of six, and American astronauts will continue to live and work there in space 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Part of the U.S. portion of the station has been designated as a national laboratory, and NASA is committed to using this unique resource for scientific research.

Commercial companies are well on their way to providing cargo and crew flights to the ISS, allowing NASA to focus its attention on the next steps into our solar system.

NASA is researching ways to design and build aircraft that are safer, more fuel-efficient, quieter, and environmentally responsible. NASA is also part of the government team that is working to develop the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, to be in place by the year 2025.

NASA is conducting an unprecedented array of science missions that will seek new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system and the universe.

how are magnets used in space flights?

how are magnets used in space flights?

With the aid of a strong magnetic field, mice have been made to levitate for hours at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. The floating rodents could provide a valuable insight into how astronauts are affected by extended spells in zero gravity.

Strawberries and frogs have previously been levitated using the same method. It works because a strong magnetic field distorts the movement of electrons in water molecules, which in turn produces a magnetic field that opposes the one applied. The net result is a repulsive effect which, if suitably oriented and strong enough, can overcome the pull of gravity.

Yuanming Liu and colleagues at JPL in Pasadena, California, used a purpose-built levitation device containing a coil of wire, or solenoid, cooled to a few degrees above absolute zero so that it became superconducting. Running a current through the solenoid creates a magnetic field of 17 teslas, about 300,000 times that of the Earth.

The magnetic field varies along the length of the coil. A water-containing object placed at the base of the coil develops an opposing magnetic field that generates a force twice that of Earth's gravity at the bottom, Earth-like gravity in the middle, and zero gravity at the top. Liu's system can levitate water-based objects for hours or even days at a time.

When the team placed a young mouse weighing 10 grams in a non-magnetic cage and moved it into the levitation zone, sure enough, the mouse began to float.

"We were pretty excited to see it," Liu says. "There was a lingering doubt that, even though you can levitate water, you may not be able to levitate a mouse."

The mouse was not so thrilled. "It tried to grab on to something. I guess it wasn't used to floating," says Liu. "It bumped on the cage and started spinning. It obviously didn't like it that much."

Drug assisted

Mildly sedated, the mouse seemed less concerned during a subsequent trial. Even non-sedated mice got used to zero gravity after a while, spending up to three hours hanging in the air, and even eating and drinking.

The levitating mice could provide a testing ground for studying the effects of space travel on humans, such as bone and muscle loss, and changes in blood flow. Liu's machine is better suited to such experiments than the "vomit comet" planes that simulate microgravity, or the International Space Station. The magnetic levitator makes it possible to dial in anything between Earth and zero gravity for as long as needed, and at lower cost.

"They're pushing the state of the art for the technology of magnetic levitation," says Jim Valles of Brown University, who manipulates cells with magnetic fields. "It's really remarkable that they've been able to build a device big enough to be able to do a mammal, that maybe stands a chance of showing the prolonged effects that space flight could produce."

Health implications

The effects on the health of an animal spending hours or days in such an intense magnetic field are unknown, though rats subjected to a field of 9.4 teslas – just over half as strong as the one used on the mice – suffered no obvious ill effects.

Liu's system is too small to be used on people, but could you build something similar to levitate humans one day? "Theoretically I think you could," says Liu, "but the cost would be prohibitive."

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