Skylab Sunshield - ILC Dover

Skylab was launched 14 May 1973. Severe damage was sustained during launch, including the loss of the station's micrometeoroid shield/sun shade and one of its main solar panels. Debris from the lost micrometeoroid shield further complicated matters by pinning the remaining solar panel to the side of the station, preventing its deployment and thus leaving the station with a large power deficit. The station underwent extensive repair during a spacewalk by the first crew, which launched on 25 May 1973. If the crew had failed to repair Skylab in time, the insulation inside the station would have melted, releasing poisonous gas and making Skylab uninhabitable.

ILC personnel worked with NASA JSC and MSFC to help design and manufacture the parasol sunshield. The sunshade was composed of a top layer of aluminized mylar, a middle layer of laminated nylon ripstop, and a bottom layer of thin nylon. The sunshield was designed and manufactured within 11 days and deployed by astronauts wearing ILC made spacesuits.