Skylab

One of the experiments on the International Space Station keeps an eye on the Sun. Its observations help scientists plot tiny changes in the Sun’s energy output, which helps them understand the interactions between the Sun and Earth.

The first American space station also carried Sun-watching telescopes. They were far more capable than any that had been sent to space before — or for a couple of decades after. They were launched 40 years ago today, aboard Skylab 1.

LAUNCH CONTROL: 3, 2, 1, 0, and we have a liftoff! The Skylab lifting off the pad now...

Skylab was designed to host three crews of astronauts. They would study the Sun and Earth, and how their own bodies adapted to the space environment. Within moments of the launch of the station itself, though, it seemed their mission might be doomed:

MISSION CONTROL: This is Skylab Control. Skylab space station now in orbit. Still some doubt in the minds of flight controllers here in Mission Control as to whether the main solar panels