In 1973, Skylab lost its heat shield and reached 130°F; NASA cooled the station with a parasol built from fishing rods and foil-like fabric

In 1973, Skylab, the United States' first space station, suffered from overheating just after its launch. Ingenious engineers quickly came up with a solution: a parasol made from fishing rods and a shiny fabric. It was skillfully installed through a tiny airlock, which kept astronauts safe from the risks of spacewalking. The parasol effectively controlled the station's interior temperature, allowing the crew to kick off their mission.