1. Selling NASA: Skylab Student Experiment Project (1971-1974) Y. H. Phoebe Tang M. Phil Candidate, Department of History The University of Hong Kong Email: phoebemus@gmail.com

2. Picture taken at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

3. Poster from NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection

4. - Over 87,000 students received project kits - 301 out of 3409 proposals selected - 25 national winners The Competition

5. I.Background of Skylab Student Experiment Project II.NASA answering to public concerns and boosting public interest III.Evaluating the Skylab Student Experiment Project

6. I. Background of the Skylab Student Experiment Project

7. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan 1973

8. NASA appropriations YearPercentage of national budget 19664.41% 19673.35% 19682.65% 19692.46% 19701.92% 19711.61% 19721.48% 19731.35%

9. 1968 - Over 60 percent students viewed space program as correlated with US’ military race against Soviet Union - Space program to keep US as number one superpower - Appropriations to be spent on social problems Late 1960s and early 1970s - Enrollment in science classes dropped Students’ views towards space and science

10. II. NASA answering to public concerns and boosting public interest

11. “...an unparalleled opportunity for direct public involvement in the values and benefits of the space program...” - Dale D. Myers, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, 1971

12. Students’ Involvement - NASA advisor or a Principal Investigator - 5-day Preliminary Design Review - 2-day Critical Design Review

13. Booklet from NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection

14. III. Evaluating the Skylab Student Experiment Project

15. “...renew interest in NASA and its activities...” - Lee Summerlin, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Science Education “...an enriching and lasting experience...” “...a feeling for the meaning of being a scientist.” - Jeanne Leventhal, student investigator

16. Houston Chronicle, 21 July 1972

17. http://history.nasa.gov/EP-177/ch5-3.html

18. Washington Star-News, 27 July 1973

19. 1974 Polls - Decreased spending in space - Space exploration not in spending priorities - Job training and pollution control

20. Conclusion

21. http://www.youtube.com/user/spacelab

22. Y. H. Phoebe Tang M. Phil Candidate, Department of History The University of Hong Kong Selling NASA: Skylab Student Experiment Project (1971-1974) Email: phoebemus@gmail.com