Skylab was the first US space station. It orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979 and was visited by astronauts three times during its first two years of service.
It was launched (on an unmanned mission) on 14 May 1973, powered by the Saturn V rocket. The station suffered severe damage during launch, losing the solar shield, part of the micrometeoroid shield and one of its main solar panels. The detached parts of the micrometeor shield prevented the remaining solar array from deploying, causing a large energy deficit and abnormal overheating.
It was visited by 3 manned missions between 1973 and 1974 which occupied the station for a total of 171 days.
There was speculation as to where in the southern hemisphere the wreckage would fall. Finally, on 11 July 1979, it fell on Australian territory, which resulted in NASA being fined US$400 for littering on public land.
An overhead view of the Skylab Orbital Workshop in Earth orbit as photographed from the Skylab 4 Command and Service Modules (CSM) during the final fly-around by the CSM before returning home.