312 HISTORY OF THE OOMNflTTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



would not have torn it off after liftoff. The committee's objective was 

 to make certain that both in design, test and inspections these errors 

 not be repeated in future programs. The committee brought out the 

 failure of forceful communication between the designer and the con- 

 tractor who was carrying out the design; Fuqua characterized it as 

 "almost like building a house and failing to hook up the plumbing 

 in the bathroom." 



In presenting the NASA program to the House of Representatives 

 in 1974, the committee for the first time was asking no money for 

 Skylab, but had an opportunity to express justifiable pride in the 

 accomplishments of the $2.5 billion program. The last manned Skylab 

 flight of 84 days splashed down on February 8, 1974, conclusively 

 proving that human beings could withstand extended stays in space 

 and perform useful tasks. Reflecting on Skylab's accomplishments, 

 Congressman Bell told his colleagues during the authorization debate 

 in 1974: 



Skylab gathered information on the Earth's resources and environment to help 

 with such problems as air and water pollution, flooding, crop deterioration, and 

 erosion. 



Congressman Fuqua in 1974, labeled Skylab an "unprecedented suc- 

 cess," adding: 



From its unique vantage point in space — beyond the atmospheric veil of Earth — 

 Skylab's sensors searched out and recorded new and far-reaching information about 

 the solar system, the Sun, the Earth, and man himself. 



In a letter to Sam Lindsey of Old Town, Fla. on July 23, 1979, 

 Fuqua explained: 



At the time that the Skylab development and launch was completed in May 

 1973, the design of the Space Shuttle was underway and planned for first launch in 

 1978. At that time the orbital life of Skylab was estimated to extend from 1979 to 

 1983, depending on assumptions as to predicted solar activity. It was also envisioned 

 at the time of Skylab launch that the Space Shuttle would be available to support 

 either a reboost of Skylab during reentry or a controlled deboost of Skylab during 

 reentry into a remote location. However, since the time Skylab was launched, the 

 Space Shuttle first launch schedule was slipped and the Skylab was reentered during 

 the early portion of the previously predicted period. 



With the advent of the Space Shuttle next year, we should be in a position to 

 avoid random reentry such as that which occurred with Skylab. 



Following some hysterically overblown news media warnings, 

 Skylab fell harmlessly to Earth on July 11, 1979, primarily in the 

 Australian outback, with some pieces falling into the Indian Ocean. 

 Fuqua summed up some of the contributions of Skylab in his letter to 

 Sam Lindsey: 



