The opening poster is missing a *lot* of nuance in favor of a message, and makes a totally bullshit supposition of the “punishment.” Because NASA doesn’t work that way.
Now, before I begin, I am in no way undercutting the efforts of these astronauts or their work and what they helped accomplish as far as how they contributed to how astronauts are treated in space. I simply wish to clarify a few things.
Firstly, the three astronauts were, in fact being overworked, they were being given so many tasks that during morning check-ins only one was attending so that the other two could continue working, they were badly behind schedule and this resulted in what we currently call crunch. This had also resulted in a shortening of their sleep schedules which led to increased stress, this is compounded by the fact that sleep in space fucking sucks. Microgravity, machine noises, disrupted circadian rhythm, and the literal inability to “lay down” makes achieving sleep frustrating at best.
So, the overworked, under-rested, weary astronauts… forgot to check in for a single orbital period. They worked the whole time.
This fatigue was noted afterwards and the day after NASA had what Carr referred to as “the first sensitivity session in space” where their schedules were re-evaluated.
Suggestions of a “strike in space” are unsourced and exaggerated. And near as we can tell NASA took the whole matter reasonably and DID change how astronauts were scheduled.
Now, l let’s talk about the hardcore bullshit of the consequences. Mister “makes shit up” in the opening tweet is misrepresenting facts. First, the youngest astronaut on the mission, Gibson, was already 37 when he flew, the others were 41 and 43, why is this important? Because Skylab 4 happened in 1973-74, the next planned manned spaceflight? Apollo-Soyuz in 1975, the crew for which had been chosen before Skylab 4’s crew had even gotten back to Earth, and the next manned mission wasn’t until 1981. In the intervening period the only one that would’ve been even up for consideration would’ve probably been Gibson and that’s if he had kept up with his physical fitness in those seven years. Pogue retired from NASA a few months after returning home, Carr retired in 77, and Gibson retired in 1982 after serving as CAPCOM for STS-1 in 1981 (meaning he WAS CONSIDERED FOR THE CREW), he stated he was “uninterested” in flying on shuttle missions.
Rant over. Short version, astronauts were overworked, forgot to check in, had their schedules re-evaluated, resulting in general reassessment for future missions, all had good careers after the fact.
