Nation: Skylab's Spectacular Death

• Share

(3 of 3)

From Camp David, President Carter flashed a quick message via satellite to Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Said the President: "I was concerned to learn that fragments of Skylab may have landed in Australia." Carter instructed the Department of State to offer assistance. None, however, was needed.

No injuries—even to a stray kangaroo —were reported.

Some Australians berated the U S for what they considered a selfish attempt to protect Maine (pop. 1,085,000) while imperiling Perth (pop. 820,100). At the same time, however, souvenir hunters rushed into the outback by Jeep, Land Rover and even chartered aircraft. Some were quick to claim they had found debris from the fallen craft, including a large cylindrical object and several small fragments. Old-timers were reminded of the giddy days when Irishman Paddy Hannan found gold nuggets near Kalgoorlie just before the turn of the century, touching off a similar treasure hunt.

In one sense, Skylab's harmless return to earth in Western Australia seemed fitting. When Astronaut John Glenn in 1962 became the first American to orbit the globe, the city of Perth had spectacularly sent him its best wishes by turning on most of its lights as he passed overhead.

Last week, quite unintentionally, NASA returned the compliment.