American radio station Highway Radio paid the fine on NASA’s behalf, raising the funds on variety breakfast program Barker and Barley in the Morning.

Show host Scott Barley said he was inspired to challenge listeners to raise the funds after reading about the debt on the Internet.

“I thought this fact of the unpaid bill was rather funny,” he said.

“I thought it would be great if I challenged my listeners to contribute to the $400 fee to pay off this long, outstanding debt.

“I wanted listeners to start off 2009 with a generous offering of goodwill to our Australian friends south of the equator.”

Shire of Esperance executive manager of corporate services Darren Kennedy said the shire sometimes received emails asking if the story of the unpaid fine was true.

“I think people look at Skylab on Wikipedia and see that the shire charged NASA for littering and the fine was never paid,” he said.

“I always write back with a standard email saying that the fine was written off in 1979 and usually I wouldn’t hear anymore.

“Only [Scott Barley] responded.

“He contacted [Esperance shire president] Ian Mickel in December, 2008 and we sent him the standard reply but he came back saying his listeners wouldn’t say no.”

Senior vice president of the Esperance Bay Historical Society and Esperance shire president at the time of the Skylab crash, Merv Andre, said the crash and fine gave the town worldwide publicity.

“The littering fine was given by the ranger as a bit of a lark,” he said.

“NASA declined to pay it and after three months, the infringement was written off, but it hasn’t been forgotten!”

Mr Barley said while many donations were small, some were very generous.

“One area business even offered to match every $50 donation with $50 and a free three month gym membership,” he said.

“Eventually, to my utter surprise, we reached our $400 goal!

“I really have to credit the listeners of Barstow, California and Las Vegas, Nevada for coming through with their donations.

“They really went out of their way by stopping by the station and even mailing in their money to be a part of this grand adventure.”

Mr Barley said he hoped to travel to Esperance in July for the 30th anniversary of the Skylab crash.

“My goal is to have Barstow, California and Esperance become ‘sister cities’ and if all goes well, to present a large, game show sized cheque to the citizens of Esperance from the people of Barstow.

“Hey, Ian Mickel, am I invited?”

The cheque is yet to be cashed.

Museum volunteers said they hoped the donation would go toward Skylab’s 30th anniversary celebrations.