America's first space station came crashing back to Earth, and nobody could say exactly where.

Falling From Orbit

In the middle of 1979, people across the globe observed the sky while feeling concerned and interested because Skylab returned to Earth. As the first space station of the United States, it launched in 1973 and provided a place for three crews to live. It was the location where researchers performed scientific work, specifically when they observed the sun and studied how humans fly in space for long periods.

The Sun Throws a Curveball

To ensure the station stayed in space, NASA planned for Skylab to remain in orbit for 8 - 10 years. On that account the Space Shuttle was supposed to push the station to a height that is further from the ground later - but the sun was active in a way that scientists did not expect, which caused the atmosphere to pull on the station more strongly. Because of this change, the orbit of the station lowered at a rate that was faster than the original calculations. When the Space Shuttle was not ready in time, NASA could not save the station. To prepare for the event, NASA tried to manage the location where the station would land as it fell through the atmosphere.

Chaos, Jokes, and a $400 Fine

On July 11, 1979, Skylab moved into the atmosphere of Earth and separated into many pieces. There was a large amount of debris that fell over the southeastern Indian Ocean and a part of Western Australia where few people live. And because of the location, the falling pieces did not cause any injuries to individuals. Fragments that did not burn away during the fall were found later and put in buildings that show historical objects.

By the time the station fell, the public around the world was watching the event. There were many people who acted with a combination of worry and amusement. Because newspapers and businesses created products based on the event, the return of Skylab became a situation that everyone could see. When individuals talked about it, they often made jokes about the locations where the debris might land. In the town of Esperance, Western Australia, a government worker gave the United States a fine of $400 because they left trash on the ground. To many people this story is now a famous part of the history of the station.

With the return of Skylab, space agencies learned a lesson that is useful for the future. It is now a primary example of how experts must plan for safety when objects fall back to Earth from space.