OTD In Space – July 11: Abandoned Skylab Returns To Earth
On July 11, 1979, the abandoned U.S. space station Skylab made a spectacular return to Earth as it burned up in the atmosphere, showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.
The last crew left the space station in 1974. Over time, it began to deorbit, slowly sinking closer and closer to Earth. Skylab actually fell back to Earth a little sooner than NASA anticipated. Strong solar storms were blamed for this premature plunge, because solar activity had warmed up Earth's atmosphere. As pieces of Skylab broke up in the atmosphere, residents and pilots in the area saw dozens of colorful firework-like flares.
The last crew left the space station in 1974. Over time, it began to deorbit, slowly sinking closer and closer to Earth. Skylab actually fell back to Earth a little sooner than NASA anticipated. Strong solar storms were blamed for this premature plunge, because solar activity had warmed up Earth's atmosphere. As pieces of Skylab broke up in the atmosphere, residents and pilots in the area saw dozens of colorful firework-like flares.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1979, the abandoned U.S. space station Skylab made a spectacular return to Earth
00:08as it burned up in the atmosphere, showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.
00:13The last crew left the space station in 1974.
00:16Over time, it began to deorbit, slowly sinking closer and closer to Earth.
00:21Skylab actually fell back to Earth a little sooner than NASA anticipated.
00:25Strong solar storms were blamed for this premature plunge
00:28because solar activity had warmed up Earth's atmosphere.
00:31As pieces of Skylab broke up in the atmosphere,
00:34residents and pilots in the area saw dozens of colorful, firework-like flares.
00:38And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:41♪