On May 25, 1973, a Saturn IB rocket launched the Skylab 2 Command and Service Modules (CSM 116) into orbit with Charles Conrad, Paul Weitz, and Joseph Kerwin. This was the first human mission to the Skylab space station, which was launched by a two-stage Saturn V on May 14, 1973. On Skylab 2's fifth orbit the crew rendezvoused with the workshop. After making substantial repairs, including deployment of a parasol sunshade which cooled the inside of Skylab to 75 degrees F, the workshop was in full operation by June 4. In orbit, the crew conducted solar astronomy and Earth resources experiments, medical studies, five student experiments, and three extra-vehicular activities. After 404 orbits and 392 experiment hours, the crew returned to Earth aboard the command module on June 22, 1973.

Ownership of the Command Module was transferred by NASA to the Smithsonian in 1974.