Skylab
Skylab was the first American space station, used for scientific experiments and crewed missions in Earth orbit during the 1970s.
Also known as: Skylab space station
How big is it?
36.1 m · overall orbital length
Overall orbital length · specified
A little perspective
Skylab vs Space Shuttle orbiter: length comparison
The overall orbiter length of a Space Shuttle orbiter is about 1.03 times the overall orbital length of Skylab.
Skylab was the first American space station, used for scientific experiments and crewed missions in Earth orbit during the 1970s.
A Space Shuttle orbiter was a reusable winged spacecraft that carried crews and cargo between Earth and low orbit.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Skylab
Overall orbital length: 36.1 m; specified.
Skylab was approximately 36.1 m long in orbit and had a launch mass of 77,088 kg. Deployed solar arrays extend across its width but do not define the measured longitudinal span.
The marked overall orbital length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Space Shuttle orbiter
Overall orbiter length: 37.24 m; specified.
A NASA Space Shuttle orbiter measured 37.24 m long, with a 23.79 m wingspan and 17.25 m overall height. External tank and boosters are not included.
NASA Technical Reports Server — Space Shuttle transportation system
The marked overall orbiter length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 36.1 m
We compare the overall orbital length of Skylab. This value follows a stated specification; check its scope in the notes.
Skylab was approximately 36.1 m long in orbit and had a launch mass of 77,088 kg. Deployed solar arrays extend across its width but do not define the measured longitudinal span.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36.1 m | Not recorded | specified | |
| 77.09 t | Not recorded | specified |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
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Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceRosetta spacecraft32 mDeployed solar-array spanRosetta was an ESA spacecraft launched to study comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, carrying the Philae lander and powered by solar arrays.
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Nearest higher valuePlanets, moons and spaceSpace Shuttle orbiter37.24 mOverall orbiter lengthA Space Shuttle orbiter was a reusable winged spacecraft that carried crews and cargo between Earth and low orbit.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA — The launch of SkylabSkylab orbital configuration and approximately 170,000 lb orbital mass.
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