Astronauts celebrate 50th anniversary of the first U.S. space station

space and rocket center, astronauts — Dr. Joseph Kerwin (left) and Col. Jack Lousma, two astronauts who manned the U.S.’s first space station, Skylab. (Audrey Johnson / Hville Blast)

Skylab, the United States’ first space station, launched into orbit 50 years ago this year. Astronauts from the crew, Dr. Joseph Kerwin and Col. Jack Lousma, headed to Huntsville–where they spent time time training for their mission–to celebrate the historic anniversary.

The astronauts were invited to tour the training module where they practiced for their mission at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Now, the training module is on display at the Space and Rocket Center.

Huntsville’s role in the creation of Skylab

space and rocket center, astronaut, space suit — One of the spacesuits worn aboard the Skylab mission. (Audrey Johnson / Hville Blast)

The Skylab space station launched in 1973 when the Saturn V, a Huntsville based project, initially propelled the craft into orbit. Nine astronauts boarded the craft across three separate missions that year.

Dr. Kerwin remembers when he traveled to Huntsville for training in 1966, there was only one motel in town.

“[Huntsville] sure has expanded since that time, and I always enjoy coming back.”
Dr. Joseph Kerwin, NASA Astronaut + Skylab Pilot

The former astronauts recalled that the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville and the Johnson Space Center in Houston worked in tremendous collaboration to complete the Skylab mission, in hopes of encouraging the creation of an International Space Station.

Who are the astronauts?

astronauts, space and rocket center, skylab — Dr. Joseph Kerwin (left) in 1973.(Audrey Johnson / Hville Blast)

skylab, space and rocket center, astronauts — Jack Lousma (middle) in 1973. (Audrey Johnson / Hville Blast)

Dr. Kerwin was a member of the first manned crew to board Skylab, and Lousma was a member of the second. Both men were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. They visited Huntsville on a regular basis to undergo training and met Wernher von Braun in 1967.

“I had, over the years, lots and lots of contact with the folks here at Huntsville Marshall Space Flight Center, a lot of good memories and made a lot of new friends.”
Dr. Joseph Kerwin, NASA Astronaut + Skylab Pilot

How Huntsville is celebrating this milestone

In addition to the list of festivals and events happening in the Rocket City this weekend, the Space and Rocket Center will host a 70s themed party to celebrate the launch of the nation’s first space station.

And this isn’t the first time astronauts have come back to visit: Jan Davis, a former NASA astronaut, returned to her hometown of Huntsville this summer to sign copies of her book “Air Born: Two Generations in Flight.”

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