S73-26390 (23 May 1973) — An umbrella-like mechanical device called the “parasol,” one of several sunscreen possibilities being considered for use in shading the overheated Skylab 1 Orbital Workshop, receives a checkout in the Technical Services shop in Building 10 at the Johnson Space Center. Here, the “parasol” is almost fully deployed. The “parasol” is designed to fit into the TO27 experiment photometer canister. The canopy portion of the “parasol” measures 24 feet by 22 feet. The sunshade device will be deployed through the solar scientific airlock in the side of the OWS. The “parasol” solar shield is considered the prime possibility for use as the OWS sunshade because it will not require EVA by the Skylab 2 crewmen, because of the operational ease of using it, and because of the simplicity of the device which minimizes crew training. A crash program to select a suitable solar shield was initiated after the original micrometeoroid shield was apparently torn off the OWS soon after its launch by Saturn V on May 14, 1973. The OWS is one of the five major components of the Skylab 1 space station cluster which is now in Earth orbit.
Photo credit: NASA