Skylab Rescue

The crew in question being Vance Brand (the one on the left) and Don Lind (the one not on the left)

Skylab Rescue is a currently on standby mission of the Apollo ApplicationsSkylab Program, which as of March 2026 has not yet launched.

Nobody thus far is truly sure when it could happen, though since 1973 during the Skylab 2 Mission (and all the other Skylab missions for that matter), there has always been a chance of it happening. It's also unknown how Skylab will be rescued, since the rocket to launch Skylab Rescue changes pretty often (such as AS-207 to rescue Skylab 2, AS-208 to rescue 3, etc.) and one of the crew members for it died a few years ago.

First Possibility (1973)

The first chance of Skylab Rescue occurring was during Skylab 2, which is pretty stupid considering Skylab 2 was a mission initially dedicated to rescuing Skylab 1 (which they did). If for some reason they had to rescue a rescue mission (basically defeating the purpose of the first rescue mission), the launch vehicle they would have used would have been AS-207 (which apparently stands for Apollo Saturn-Saturn 1B 7) and because Skylab rescue didn't happen the first time, AS-207 was instead used for Skylab 3.

Second Possibility (1973)

The second time Skylab Rescue could have happened was during Skylab 3 when the spacecraft used to carry the Skylab 3 crew decided to try and commit die (although some people think the ghosts did it). Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on if you hate Skylab 3), the Skylab 3 crew were able to take it to the doctor and get it fixed. Assuming they didn't do that (or the ghosts got it more sick, but you didn't hear that from me), the Skylab Rescue launch vehicle would have been AS-208, and since it didn't happen the second time either, AS-208 was used for Skylab 4.

Third Possibility (1973/1974)

Nice garden decoration, isn't it?

The third happenable of Skylab Rescue was during Skylab 4, but since nothing that would have required Skylab Rescue to happen did other than the mutiny/strike, there was basically no need for it. If there hypothypothetically was, the launch vehicle would have been AS-209, which (as of March 2026) is being used as a nice garden decoration.

Fourth Possibility (1974-Now)

The fourth probably of Skylab Rescue is currently happening, even though Skylab 5 hasn't remembered to exist yet. It's apparently been considered to use AS-209 for Skylab 5 (which would ruin the garden, but maybe find out if the Skylab 4 ghosts are still there). If it happens, it will somehow use AS-209 (which would once again, ruin the garden).

it could happen at any moment and we'd find out

Four.Fiveth Possibility (1975)

Technically this shouldn't be here, but it's going to be here anyway, so be quiet, you silly sausage. Skylab Rescue was considered for rescuing the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project which probably would have been really weird considering the ASTP wasn't part of Skylab, and one of the members of Skylab Rescue was on the ASTP. Once again, AS-209 would have been used if it happened, which it didn't.