Editing Skylab Rescue (section)

{{short description|Unflown spaceflight contingency plan}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Skylab Rescue
| image                 = Skylab rescue cm.jpg
| image_caption         = Skylab Rescue Command Module Diagram
| image_alt             = Drawing of a space capsule with astronauts sitting with their backs to the floor on two layers, three on the top and two beneath
| insignia              =

| mission_type          = Crew rescue
| operator              = [[NASA]]
| mission_duration      =

| spacecraft            = [[Apollo (spacecraft)|Apollo]] CSM-119
| manufacturer          = [[North American Aviation]]
| launch_mass           = 
| landing_mass          =

| launch_date           = On standby <br> August 1973 - February 1974<br/><small>(Unlaunched)</small>
| launch_rocket         = [[Saturn IB]] AS-208/209
| launch_site           = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]] [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39B]]
| landing_date          =

| docking               = 
 {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
   | docking_target     = Skylab
   | docking_type       = dock
   | docking_port       = Forward
 }}

| crew_size             = 2 at launch<br/>5 at landing
| crew_members          = [[Vance D. Brand]]<br/>[[Don L. Lind]]
| crew_photo            = Skylab rescue crew.jpg
| crew_photo_caption    = Skylab rescue crew portrait (Left to right; [[Vance Brand]] and [[Don Lind]])
}}
[[File:The Skylab 4 rescue vehicle.jpg|thumb|The Skylab 4 rescue vehicle at Launch Pad 39B (3 December 1973)]]
The '''Skylab Rescue Mission''' (also '''SL-R''')<ref name="missionreq">" [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740004370_1974004370.pdf Mission Requirements, Skylab Rescue Mission, SL-R]" NASA, 24 August 1973.</ref>{{Rp|iii}} was an unflown rescue mission, planned as a [[contingency plan|contingency]] in the event of astronauts being stranded aboard the American [[Skylab]] space station.<ref name="astrorescue">Wade, Mark. "[http://www.astronautix.com/flights/skyescue.htm Skylab Rescue] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906235101/http://astronautix.com/flights/skyescue.htm |date=2005-09-06 }}". ''[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]''. Retrieved 2009-04-10.</ref><ref name="time" /> If flown, it would have used a modified [[Apollo Command Module]] that could be launched with a crew of two and return a crew of five.<ref name="missionreq" />{{Rp|1-1}}<ref name="astrorescuecm" />

Astronauts [[Vance Brand]] and [[Don Lind]] were assigned as the rescue crew, in the event of the mission's necessity.  A rescue mission was considered when the [[Skylab 3]] [[Apollo Command/Service Module|Command/Service Module]] (CSM) developed problems in its [[reaction control system]] (RCS) thrusters while docked to the station.  On the ground, [[space vehicle]]s were assembled to fly rescue missions in support of both Skylab 3 and [[Skylab 4]].  However, no rescue mission ever proved necessary.  All astronauts visiting Skylab returned safely to Earth in their original command modules.