Skylab extravehicular activity

The use of extravehicular activity (EVA) techniques during the Skylab program for accomplishing major mission objectives and major and minor repair work outside the Skylab workshop is discussed. There were ten EVA periods during Skylab that lasted 82.5 man-hr. Accomplishments included those planned before the mission; but, more important, the Skylab mission was saved by EVA. The life-giving solar wing was erected during the first manned Skylab mission, and the permanent solar shield was erected during the second manned Skylab mission. In addition, 18 extra mission objectives and 13 in-flight repair tasks were accomplished through EVA during the Skylab missions.