More Details for 1973-05-27
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Skylab-2 crew began to activate experiments.
Following the successful deployment of the parasol, the Skylab-2 crew began to transfer and store equipment and activate experiments.
On 29 May, everything in the OWS was turned on for the first time. The crew checked out the EREP and the ATM. On 7 June astronauts Conrad and Kerwin performed an EVA to free the undeployed OWS solar array. EVA began at 11:15 a.m. EDT. At 2:01 p.m., the strap restraining the solar wing was severed, the beam was fully deployed, and the three panels had begun to deploy. The 3-hour 25-minute EVA was completed at 2:40 p.m. By 8:55 p.m., all the solar array system solar power sections were deployed, and the OWS power crisis had abated. At 3:22 a.m. EDT, 18 June, the crew of SL-2 broke the space flight record of 570 hours 23 minutes set by the Soviet Soyuz 11 flight in June 1971. During the SL-1/SL-2 mission, the following experiments were conducted: Medical-all medical experiments were successfully conducted with a completion range of 80 to 100 percent. Apollo telescope mount-82 hours of manned viewing time and 154 hours of ground commanded data gathering were accomplished. EREP-11 passes with a full range of instrument operation and task site assignments were completed. (Prelaunch planning called for 14 passes.) Corollary-56 hours of crew time were devoted to these experiments. (Prelaunch planning called for 64 hours.)