‘“Skylab over Albany” by William H. Murray

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It certainly isn’t Superman! It is, however, a painting of the burning remains of the NASA Skylab. The story of the returning satellite, which disintegrated in a fiery explosion over Esperance, in the early hours of July 12, 1979, has many twists and turns, as well as a few laughs. An American newspaper offered $10,000 to the first person who could bring a piece of the shuttle to their office. An Albany prankster planted some burnt metal in a fairway at the local golf course, and the lawn mower thought he’d won the jackpot. He was ready to jump on the plane to claim his prize – until the hoax was revealed.