Skylab 4’s mission studied how astronauts could cope with extended time in space. The astronauts took a day off, blacking out communication with Mission Control, leading to a reduced workload and increased range. This forced NASA to reconsider its treatment of astronaut crews.
Part of Skylab 4’s mission goal was to study how astronauts could cope with extended time living in space. The mission covered diet, exercise to prevent muscle loss and other problems associated with prolonged weightlessness. The mission astronauts – Gerald Carr, William Pogue and Edward Gibson – faced a grueling schedule for the 84-day mission. And one day in December 1973, the astronauts decided to take a day off. They blacked out communication with Mission Control and spent the day relaxing and taking in the spectacular views. This caught the attention of NASA, and a reduced workload and increased range for the astronauts was soon agreed upon.
Ground Control for Skylab 4:
NASA’s original plan called for 6,051 hours of work to be shared between the three men, basically a 24-hour schedule.
Although the episode has been called a “mutiny”, in reality it was not. But it forced NASA to reconsider its treatment of astronaut crews.
“NASA has treated the crew as expendable tools in its program,” wrote Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times. “But Skylab 4 proved that when push came to shove, astronauts had all the control in their hands.”
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