In article ,
lid says...

snip

A kit was developed for the Apollo CM that provided five
couches for a possible Skylab rescue mission. This was nearly
used during Skylab 3, when a service module RCS problem
initiated rescue preparations. The problem was later solved so
the rescue wasn't needed.

The problem wasn't so much solved as completely and correctly analyzed
and characterized. While the leaky thruster quads reduced the Skylab 3
CSM's maneuvering options, there was still sufficient control and delta-
V capability to allow the mission to continue normally.

However, the rescue CSM was outfitted with the extra couches and early
launch preparations were begun. (The rescue CSM and Saturn I-B were
always on the pad during Skylab missions, to ensure a timely rescue
capability -- I visited KSC over Christmas 1973 and saw the rescue
vehicle at the pad while the Skylab 4 crew was flying. That same Saturn
I-B that I saw on the pad in 1973 was used for ASTP 18 months later.)

If I'm remembering correctly, the rescue mission crew was Vance Brand
(CDR) and Bruce McCandless (PLT). But I could be wrong about the PLT
slot...

--

"The problem isn't that there are so | Doug Van Dorn
many fools; it's that lightning isn't |
distributed right." -Mark Twain