Saving Skylab
N.L.
“T-minus 30 seconds until launch, crew of STS-1.”
This was it, the final few seconds until launch. This would be my first and likely my most important mission. Beside me sat two of my colleagues, the most qualified for this operation.
“You ready for this?” Connor turned to me with a smile. His excitement was clear.
“We have to be ready, ‘cause if we aren’t, then we’ll be dead,” I responded.
“T-minus 10 seconds until launch.”
“Keep your eyes peeled. Think about the mission now” Tim started to flip some switches.
“T-minus 3,2,1, and launch!” alerted mission control.
The weight of boulders started to tumble on our bodies, which was accompanied by the ignitions of the engines and boosters. Tim was fully engaged and prepared to do anything. I should flip the “serious” switch on in my head.
“How’s the launch STS-1?”
“Launch is nominal Houston.”
The shuttle was steadily pitching, with an increasing thrust. The amount of boulders was starting to increase, but we were built with strong mettle. We would be able to handle anything that was dropped on us.
“STS-1 we’re reporting two fuel cell losses. We’re currently figuring out what to do. Please wait on standby.”
Great, a problem we need to fix. Hopefully they think of something quick.
“Hah, great! This’ll improve our reputation if we fix this” exclaimed Connor. He seemed excited about being in such a situation, and so was I.
“STS-1 please switch SCE to AUX.”
Connor flipped the switch. Ground control informed us that the fuel cells were back to being nominal. After a brief celebration, we went back to being serious. The boosters and the external tank separated after a few minutes, and the boulders vanished into nothing.
We were in zero gravity.
For a few hours, nothing intense really happened. We were simply rendezvousing with Skylab. We did relatively menial tasks until we approached within a few kilometers of the station.
“Alright. Now’s the time for the real mission. Be prepared. We do not know what will happen.” Tim was always a serious person, but this was the first time I had seen him this serious.
Meanwhile, Connor appeared to be busy. I watched as the TRS approached Skylab. Everything was going to plan.
“STS-1, we’re getting reports from some of the ground teams that there is a possibility of debris hitting you. Be wary, we’re currently looking into the odds of this occurring.”
What fun. I warned Connor to be a tad bit quicker with the docking of the TRS. We needed to make sure that we would not get hit and be killed.
2My serious switch was flipped now.
“STS-1, do you read?”
“Loud and clear, mission control,” Tim responded. “What’s the situation?”
“We give permission to initiate an emergency landing. We’ve discovered that a dead satellite is about to approach close. Initiate emergency lan-”
The TRS exploded. Shrapnel hit the wings of the shuttle. Skylab was doomed.
“Well I’ll be damned,” stated Tim. “Connor, you need to do an EVA and do some emergency repairs. I’ll stay with Shepard aboard to see what mission control requests.”
Connor rushed to look for something to repair the shuttle.
I rushed over to help Tim, adrenaline pumping. “Need anything? We better do something quick. I want to at least be able to complete the mission.”
“You know that mission control ordered us to abort the mission, right? You insane or something? I’m not here to die for a foolish cause. Skylab is doomed! Do you not understand?” Tim’s face glowed red. He was not amused.
“Hey Shepard, I can’t find the repair equipment. Did you forget to tell the ground crew to pack it?”
Oh how wonderful, I forgot to do something essential. I was prepared for the onslaught of Tim’s rage.
“Shepard, you better fix this ordeal. This was a mess you created. How could you be so forgetful? I didn’t realize you were a bumbling idiot.”
I needed to think fast. I tended to forget some important things, but now was the time to make up for that. As risky as it was, I thought of something.
“Tim, we should dock with Skylab and have Connor enter the station to look for any repair equipment. There’s bound to be some that an astronaut left behind. How much fuel do we have left?”
“We have more than enough fuel, but we’re going to enter the atmosphere soon. We better do this quick.”
We docked with Skylab and Connor entered the station to look for repair materials. Connor found some, and he started repairing the shuttle so we could reenter safely. I still didn’t want to abandon the station though. A failed mission is not what I desired, but the probability of it happening was rising.
“Tim, I have a small question for you.”
“Ask away. We’re almost done repairing the shuttle anyways, so we have some time.”
“Do you want to save Skylab?”
“Of course. That’s the point of our mission, isn’t it? Did you forget what our objective was?” Tim stared at me weirdly, but his answer gave me the motivation to continue the mission.
“Good to know. We’re gonna rescue Skylab then.”
“Well it’s good to know you’ve lost your mind! What’s your plan this time? Ram the station back into orbit?”
“First of all, how much fuel do we have remaining?”
“We don’t have too much. Remember that we need to save some for the reentry maneuvers.”
“Let’s contact mission control about this. Hopefully they approve.”
After a quick update with mission control over our current situation, we were granted permission to attempt a maneuver to stabilize Skylab’s orbit. A quick push with the shuttle put Skylab in the proper orbit, and we deorbited to land back on Earth. It was a rough mission, but it was one that we completed. With that, I was satisfied. It was time for the refurbishment of the space station, and I would be a part of that.
