On this day in history, May 14, 1973, Skylab, the first US space station, is launched

America's first space station, Skylab, launched into Earth's orbit on this day in history, May 14, 1973.

The unmanned space station blasted into space on a modified Saturn V rocket at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, NASA's Skylab website reports. 

This marked the last time the Saturn V rocket was used in spaceflight, according to Space.com.

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The launch of the space station was not without complications. 

"Almost immediately, technical problems developed due to vibrations during liftoff," said the NASA website.

"A critical meteoroid shield ripped off, taking one of the craft's two solar panels with it, and a piece of the shield wrapped around the other panel, keeping it from deploying," it said. 

To solve this problem — and to prevent Skylab's future crew from dangerously hot temperatures due to the lack of meteoroid shield — NASA engineers "'rolled' Skylab to lower the temperature of the workshop," the website also noted.

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Skylab 2, the mission that sent Skylab its first crew, was delayed for 10 days in order to teach the astronauts how to mitigate the damage the space station received on liftoff, said NASA. 

Skylab finally received its first three-man crew on May 25, 1973.

Commander Charles "Pete" Conrad, pilot Paul J. Weitz and science pilot Joseph P. Kerwin would stay aboard Skylab for the entire 28-day mission, said NASA.

The crew would make history many times during their trip to space. 

"On June 7, 1973, on their 14th day in space, Conrad and Kerwin floated out of Skylab’s Airlock Module. They set up a 25-foot pole with cable cutter tool at the end that closed partway over the aluminum strap from the micrometeoroid shield that was holding down the solar array," NASA said.

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The two carefully went to the solar wing and attached a rope to attempt to free the stuck panels. 

"Kerwin closed the jaws on the cutter tool the rest of the way, slicing through the metal strap," the NASA website continued. 

"The solar wing partially opened, but its hinge had frozen in the cold of space, preventing it from fully opening."

It added, "Conrad and Kerwin then both pulled on the rope to overcome the frozen hinge and the wing sprung fully open, bouncing the astronauts away — luckily their space suit tethers kept them from floating off into space." 

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The spacewalk was a success — and Conrad and Kerwin became the first astronauts to ever engage in a "repair spacewalk," said NASA. 

Additionally, the length of their spacewalk, three hours and 25 minutes, was a record. 

When the three astronauts returned to Earth — 28 days and 50 minutes after blast off — they had set a new record for longest human space flight, said NASA. 

They were also the first astronauts to return alive from a mission to a space station, NASA also noted. (The crew of the Soviet space station Salyut 1, the world's first space station, died upon re-entry.)

Skylab would remain in space until July 11, 1979, when it disintegrated in Earth's atmosphere, according to Space.com. 

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Parts of Skylab were found in Australia and in the Indian Ocean, and one Australian town even fined NASA for littering, the site added.

The space station had been unoccupied since February 1974, when the crew of Skylab 4 departed back to earth, said NASA. 

Today, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth at an average altitude of 248 miles (400 kilometers). It circles the globe every 90 minutes — and in one day, the station travels about the distance it would take to go from Earth to the moon and back, according to Space.com.

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At night, the ISS is visible from Earth, the same source says — "appearing as a luminous moving point of light and rivaling the brilliant planet Venus in brightness. It can be seen without the use of a telescope by night sky observers who know when and where to look."

The ISS is a partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries that contributed different parts, Space.com also noted. The ISS contains parts "provided by the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the countries comprising the European Space Agency."

Dana Perino gives commencement address at CSU Pueblo: 'You are American, you are loved'

Fox News' Dana Perino addressed the graduating students of Colorado State University Pueblo on Saturday, reminding them to protect their integrity and follow their dreams.

Perino, currently co-anchor of "America's Newsroom" and co-host of "The Five", attended the institution when it was called University of Southern Colorado. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in mass communication in 1994.

As a commencement speaker, Perino was also presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree. 

During her speech, Perino spoke about her experience working in the White House under President George W. Bush, and reminded students that they have the power to achieve their goals.

"If you're born here, you already won life's great lottery. You are American, you are loved, you are educated, and you get to make decisions," Perino said.

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Perino told the students that they have a duty to their families and communities to stay aligned with their values.

"You have to learn, how do you decide how you want to spend your day? How do you want to take care of yourself?" Perino elaborated. "How do you want to make sure that you are doing the best that you can for yourself, for your families, and for your communities?"

The former White House Press Secretary emphasized that integrity is the most important asset an individual could have, despite the costs it might have.

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"[Integrity is] the most valuable asset. And you have the responsibility to protect it at all costs. And that might cost you some things along the way. It could cost you friendships," she explained. "It might cost you a job. It might cost you something that you would never want to give up that you think

"But if you compromise on your integrity, you will lose your most important and valuable asset," Perino added.

"Take your education, the fact that you're American, your personal integrity, and go out there and show us what how you're going to do it," the "America's Newsroom" co-host concluded. "I am honored to be here."

CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet praised Perino's speech and awarded her a trophy at the end. 

"Our mission statement at CSU Pueblo is helping students navigate a rapidly changing world, something that I think a lot about." Mottet said. "And I think her message reflected how she has managed a rapidly changing world… it's a good model for the rest of us to follow."