Film on 1st US Space Station casts new light on scientific discoveries

Описание: (17 Aug 2021) LEAD IN:
A documentary revisiting the journey of the forbearer of the International Space Station is being screened at a NASA watch party later this month along with the chance to meet with some of the astronauts.
Skylab was the first American space station, but it came crashing back to Earth dropping debris which scattered in Western Australia.

STORY-LINE:
While Skylab is perhaps best remembered for its spectacular crash into the Australian desert in the summer of 1979, the missions themselves provided the scientific community with invaluable information about our planet, the sun, space and the universe itself.
A largely forgotten story, "Searching For Skylab, America's Forgotten Triumph" features never-before-seen footage revealing incredible feats of science and technology achieved by the space station and NASA astronauts.
First released in 2019, it explores the journey of the forbearer of the International Space Station between 1973 and 1974.
A watch party event set for 28th August will feature a screening of the documentary and a panel led by NASA astronauts to discuss what it was like to live in space.
The director, Dwight Steven-Boniecki, gives insight into the making of the documentary ahead of the screening.
"I made the film primarily because I was outraged that these astronauts who had flown up there were pretty much forgotten about. And that's why the subtitle of the film is America's Forgotten Triumph, because I found out by researching it that, yes, it actually was a triumph, including when it crashed into Australia," explains Steven-Boniecki.
"That sort of thing started in my head. Kids today should actually see this and get an understanding of science and appreciating how how great it is to be able to fly into space and to conduct experiments and view the earth," he adds.
Alongside the screening of the documentary, there will be a panel led by NASA astronauts to discuss what it was like to live in space.
"It's been an honour for me to tell the story of these astronauts and and the program itself and to get emails from family members of astronauts who have gone along with us, thanking me from the bottom of their heart for preserving the legacy of their parents," says Steven-Boniecki.  
The experimental work done by Skylab astronauts while it was occupied over a 24-week period resulted in many scientific revelations and discoveries about Earth, the sun and the universe.
"When you think the political systems of the US and Russia, they still managed to do that and pull the whole thing off flawlessly. It's an incredible testament to human ingenuity. And I think in the long term, people will realise that's the only way we can go further out into the expanse of space is by working together," says Steven-Boniecki.
Many remember the end of Skylab's mission, a dramatic crash in Western Australia in 1979.  Steven-Boniecki says that should not be viewed as as a failure.
"Yes, it actually was a triumph, including when it crashed into Australia. The amount of data they got from that crash helped the bench set the benchmark for observing and dealing with other space objects that fall back down to Earth," he says.

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