- This article is about the space station in the 2000s. For the former spaceship, see Phoenix (spacecraft). For its former usage, see Polaris Orbital Hotel. For the missile system with the same name, see Phoenix (missile).
Phoenix is a space station in Martian orbit, owned and operated by Helios Aerospace. It was built out of the former spaceship with the same name, Phoenix, and serves as transfer station and main hub for incoming and outgoing traffic from and to the international Happy Valley colony on Mars.[1] [note 1]
History[]
Former spacecraft[]
- Main article: Phoenix (spacecraft)
The former spaceship was originally built out of Earth's first orbital hotel, Polaris, between 1992 and 1994. The spacecraft was used by Helios during the 1994 race to Mars.[2]
Martian space station[]
In the late 1990s, the former spaceship transitioned into a permanent space station in Martian orbit.[1] [note 1] It was subsequently used as transit station and hub for incoming and outgoing spacecraft, and the Mars-7 colony on the Martian surface.
At some point, the station was upgraded with a second rotational ring, one main docking port at the bow, and two additional docking ports at the stern, all of them designed for docking of bigger spacecraft. It also received more secondary docking points, from the two original MSAM (and former Polaris shuttle) docks to 8 docking ports for the new and larger Hopper transfer shuttles.
The Helios operated Unity spacecraft, as well as the asteroid towing craft Ranger regularly dock at the station.[3]
Technical Details[]
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Gallery[]
.png "Phoenix station patch (emb).png (1.27 MB)")
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 It is currently unknown whether the former ship ever returned to Earth before it became a permanent orbital station, but from the fact they were not able to produce fuel for a return flight after 1995, it can be assumed it did not.
It still raises the question how everyone from the old crew returned, as together with the survivors on Mars, they were over 20 people, too many for one single rescue mission with Sojourner 2.
See also[]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 For All Mankind TV series, season 4
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 3
- ↑ For All Mankind TV series, season 4, episode 2, "Have A Nice Sol"