The Community of The Skylab is a mammoth, safe nation, ruled by Alan Shepard with an even hand, and notable for its complete lack of prisons, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and suspicion of poets. The hard-working population of 7.087 billion Skylabians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of The Apollo Telescope Mount. The average income tax rate is 21.2%.

The Skylabian economy, worth 449 trillion Rations a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Woodchip Exports industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 63,372 Rations, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.3 times as much as the poorest.

Stranded mountaineers can watch livestreamed footage of their rescues, historic buildings are being demolished to allow for road-widening in the city centre, Alan Shepard's family members carry literal get-out-of-jail-free cards, and politicians put their fingers in their ears and sing "la la la la" when walking past lobbyists. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Skylab's national animal is the Space Barnacle, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans, and its national religion is Panspermia.

The Skylab is ranked 112,787^th in the world and 4^th in The Moon for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring 43.68 on the Kitten Softness Rating.