SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 11

Solution: The correct answer is Skylab was the United States' first space station that demonstrated the feasibility of long-duration human presence in space and helped study the effects of microgravity on humans, despite suffering damage during launch.
Explanation:
☛ Skylab was the first space station of the United States, launched into orbit by NASA on 14 May 1973 using a modified Saturn V rocket.
☛ During launch, Skylab sustained severe damage when its micrometeoroid shield and one of its main solar arrays were torn off, while the other solar panel became jammed.
☛ The first crew (Skylab 2) performed unprecedented in-space repairs, deploying a parasol sunshield and freeing the jammed solar panel to save the station.
☛ Skylab hosted three crewed missions (Skylab 2, 3, and 4) between 1973 and 1974, proving that humans could live and conduct productive scientific research in microgravity for extended periods.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Skylab 4: The final mission set an endurance record at the time by spending 84 days in space.
☛ Apollo Telescope Mount: Skylab included a dedicated solar observatory that took thousands of high-resolution images of the Sun.
☛ Re-entry: Skylab's orbit decayed, and it re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 July 1979, scattering debris over the southeastern Indian Ocean and parts of Western Australia.
☛ Salyut 1: Launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1971, it was the world's first space station.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which country launched the world's first space station, Salyut 1, in 1971? → Soviet Union (USSR)
☛ Which launch vehicle was used to launch NASA's Skylab into orbit in 1973? → Saturn V
☛ Where did the surviving debris of Skylab land upon re-entry in 1979? → Indian Ocean and Western Australia
☛ What was the name of the first modular space station launched by the USSR in 1986? → Mir
☛ In which year was the first component (Zarya module) of the International Space Station (ISS) launched? → 1998