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03/10/2025 6:55 pm
The Greatest Cosmic Prank.
It happened in 1973 aboard the U.S. space station Skylab. Owen Garriott wasn’t just a brilliant astronaut — he was a top-tier jokester. And what he pulled off with a tape recorder deserves a permanent spot in space folklore.
Before the flight, Garriott brought a tape recorder. His wife Helen recorded a few lines on it — part of a top-secret prank designed specifically for flight controller Robert Crippen at Mission Control.
One day, just before the daily check-in with Earth, when the controller asked, “Skylab, this is Houston. Do you read?” Garriott pressed play. A female voice from orbit answered, “Good afternoon, Houston. This is Skylab.”
Silence fell over the line. Then, from Mission Control, came a shaky voice:
“…Who is this?”
“Hi, Robert. This is Helen, Owen’s wife.”
A long pause. Then Crippen, clearly panicking, said:
“…What are YOU doing up there?!”
“Oh, I just thought I’d bring the guys something to eat. Everything’s fresh and homemade.”
Then — radio silence. Total chaos.
For a whole minute, Mission Control froze.
And then… the connection cut out. Most likely, Crippen’s nerves couldn’t handle it.
To this day, it remains one of the most legendary pranks in the history of space.
03/10/2025 7:15 pm
😂🤣 I wonder how many at mission control had to change their undies.
03/10/2025 7:42 pm
That might explain why I have never heard of this astronaut; he may have gotten his wings clipped....or should I say his jets cooled!
This post was modified 7 months ago by Jack Dodds
03/10/2025 8:06 pm
To this day, it remains one of the most legendary pranks in the history of space.
one of the most legendary pranks period!! that is brilliant!
03/10/2025 9:20 pm
...sure beats the Whoopi cushion joke of '71. 😉
04/10/2025 6:21 am
LOL! Brilliant! Expanding a touch, per internet: On September 10, 1973, controllers in Houston were startled to hear a woman's voice beaming down from Skylab. The voice startled capsule communicator (CAPCOM) Robert Crippen by calling him by name, and then the woman explained: "The boys haven't had a home-cooked meal in so long I thought I'd bring one up." After several minutes in which she described forest fires seen from space and the beautiful sunrise, the woman said: "Oh oh. I have to cut off now. I think the boys are floating up here toward the command module and I'm not supposed to be talking to you." As Garriott later revealed, he had recorded his wife, Helen, before the launch, giving descriptions of multiple events that might occur during the mission.
04/10/2025 6:47 am
Straight from the horse's mouth.
John Bono
North Jersey
