What was Skylab?

Skylab was the first U.S. space station, which marked a significant milestone in the United States' efforts in space exploration and research. Launched in 1973, Skylab served as an experimental platform for various scientific experiments and observations of Earth and space. It provided valuable information on how humans can live and work in space for extended periods, thus laying the groundwork for future space stations and long-duration missions in orbit. The missions conducted aboard Skylab helped scientists understand the biological and physical effects of long-term spaceflight, which is crucial for planning future manned missions beyond low Earth orbit.