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in: Space stations, Locations, Space technology, Satellites
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1992
Season 3 location

Changes: Polaris Orbital Hotel

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:''{{About|the space station|the episode with the same name|Polaris (episode)}}''
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{{About|the space station|the accident|Polaris hotel disaster|the space tourism company|Polaris Space Tours|the shuttle|Polaris shuttle|the episode of season 3|Polaris (episode)}}
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{{Space station
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{{Location
  
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|name= Polaris
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| title = ''Polaris''
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|image= Polaris Orbital Hotel.png
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| image = FAM 301 04.38 Polaris hotel.png
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| caption =
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|location= Earth's orbit
  
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| alias =
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|use= Hotel
  
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| type = [[Space station]]
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|owner= [[Sam Cleveland]] <small>(deceased)</small><br>[[Karen Baldwin]]
  
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| owner = [[Polaris Space Tours]]
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| operator = [[Polaris Space Tours]]
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| location = [[Earth]]'s orbit
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| purpose = Orbital hotel
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| function =
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| crewed = Permanently
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| dimensions = Ring diameter: 137 m<br>Length: 47 m<br>Solar panels: 80 m each side<br>(See <sub><ref group="Note">These measurements are taken from an early concept sheet (see gallery) that does not depict the station as seen on screen. They may be inaccurate.</ref></sub>)
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| components = Central hub<br>2 Docking ports<br>Habitation ring<br>Hab modules<br>Solar panels
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| facilities = Hotel rooms<br>Restaurant/Bar<br>2 Cafés<br>Fitness center<br>Zero-G activity dome
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| propulsion = Chemical
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| crew = Technical crew: ~10-12<br>Hotel crew: unknown
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| workers =
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| guests = Capacity unknown
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| payload =
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| docks = 2 [[Polaris shuttle|shuttle]] docks
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| built = 1990 - 1992
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| firstused = July 17, [[1992]]
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| upgrades =
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| retired = July 17, 1992
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| img2header = Logo
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| image2 = FAM 301 13.47 Polaris logo.png
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| caption2 =
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| psi = s3,1992,flag-usa
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| psi-type = loc
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| cat1 = Locations
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| cat2 = Space technology
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| cat3 = Satellites
 
}}
  
}}
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{{quote
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'''Polaris''' is an orbital hotel founded by [[Sam Cleveland]] and [[Karen Baldwin]]. Its features include a fitness center, cafes, room service, and artifical gravity.
  
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|quote = We're already sending folks up in space, we might as well give them some place to sleep.
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|speaker = [[Sam Cleveland]]
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|source = in {{SeasonEp|301|l}}, {{EpLink|301|q}}
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}}
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'''''Polaris''''' was a [[space station]] in [[Earth]]'s orbit planned to serve as a hotel. It was constructed between [[1990]] and [[1992]] and planned to open in August 1992. Due to a [[Polaris hotel disaster|disastrous accident]] during its soft opening a few weeks earlier, the project could never reach its planned purpose.
  +
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The damaged station was then bought by [[Helios Aerospace]], who converted it into the command and habitation module of their [[spacecraft]] ''[[Phoenix (spacecraft)|Phoenix]]''.<ref name=":302"/> In the late [[1990s]], it became a space station again, serving as a transfer station in [[Martian]] orbit, still under the name [[Phoenix (space station)|''Phoenix'']].<ref>{{TVref|4}}</ref>
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
  +
The station was operated by [[Polaris Space Tours]], a space tourism company founded by [[Sam Cleveland]] and [[Karen Baldwin]] in the mid 80s.<ref name="s3-bonus-1986">{{BVref|1986}}</ref> The two space tourism pioneers unveiled their plans on building an own space station in 1990.<ref name=":301">{{TVref|3|1}}</ref> Before that, they were already carrying paying customers to {{wpl|low Earth orbit}} with their own [[spaceplane]] ''[[Polaris shuttle|Polaris 1]]'' since early [[1987]].<ref name="s3-bonus-1986"/>
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During [[Danny Stevens]]' wedding, Polaris' orbital thrusters are damaged by the debris of a North Korean rocket, causing Polaris to rotate faster and increasing the gravity levels. Though Sam tries to keep it quiet, after the two astronauts were killed trying to make repairs, he and Karen announce the evacuation plans. While Sam is escorting guests through the elevators, the gravity forces his elevator to crash, instantly killing him. As the gravity levels continue to increase rapidly, Danny goes on an unauthorised EVA to repair the thrusters, which he manages to do just as the hotel barely exceeds 4.0 gravity levels, which was its maximum G tolerance.
  
   
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By mid 1992, the station was built and ready for operation. Polaris consisted of a spinning habitation ring around a central hub, providing artificial {{wpl|Artificial_gravity|spin gravity}} for its guests and crew. The rotating ring consisted of a continuous hallway with 4 elevators to the hub and modules attached to the side facing Earth. These modules were used for the guest rooms and other hotel facilities, as well as for the flight deck, the control room of the station. The hub was where the shuttles docked, and also featured a zero-G activity dome. The hotel offered features like a restaurant &amp; event room with bar, 2 cafés, room service, and a fitness center.<ref name=":301"/>
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Following the disaster and the three deaths that occoured, the hotel was shut down and scheduled to be deconstructed and sold for scrap, before the company [[Helios Aerospace]] purchased the hotel. Helios intended to add engines to the craft, turning it into the [[Phoenix Spacecraft|Phoenix]] for the 1994 Mars transfer window, a full two years before the planned NASA and Soviet Mars missions, which were accelerated in response to this announcement.
  
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On July 17, 1992, a few weeks before its official opening, the hotel hosted the [[Wedding of Danny Stevens and Amber|wedding]] of [[Danny Stevens|Danny]] and [[Amber Stevens]], which was also supposed to serve as a test run for the hotel. Among the guests were [[Ed Baldwin]] and [[Danielle Poole]] with their new partners, as well as Danny's brother [[Jimmy Stevens|Jimmy]].<ref name=":301"/>
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===Space debris accident===
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{{Main|Polaris hotel disaster}}
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During the wedding, an orbital thruster was damaged by debris of a [[North Korea Space Program|North Korean rocket]], causing the station to rotate faster and therefore increasing the gravity levels. After two technicians were killed trying to make repairs, evacuation of the station was ordered. However, after one of the elevators malfunctioned due to the higher gravity, killing Sam Cleveland, they were all shut down. As the gravity still continued to increase, Danny decided to go for an [[EVA]] to try to manually close the thruster's valve, as it would be impossible for the guests to escape through ladders with the gravity getting close to 3 G. He managed to do so just as the gravity started to exceed 4 G, the station's maximum tolerance.<ref name=":301"/>
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  ⚫
Following the disaster and the three deaths that occurred, the hotel was shut down and scheduled to be deconstructed and sold for scrap. However, the company Helios Aerospace offered Karen to purchased the hotel. Helios intended to add engines to the station and turning it into their spacecraft ''Phoenix'' for their planned [[Helios Mars mission|mission]] to [[Mars]].<ref name=":302">{{TVref|3|2}}</ref>
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==Personnel==
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===Technical operation===
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* [[Rich LaPorte]] {{s|Commander}}
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* [[Joaquin Asencio]] &dagger; {{s|Controller, Technician}}
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* Cy Reed &dagger; {{s|Technician}}
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* [[Whitney (3x01)|Whitney]] {{s|Controller}}
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* [[John (3x01)|John]] {{s|Controller}}
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* [[Steven (Polaris) (3x01)|Steven]] {{s|Controller}}
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* + additional technical personnel
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* at least 2 shuttle pilots
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===Hotel staff===
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* [[Karen Baldwin]] {{s|Manager}}
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* All kind of usual hotel staff, like [[Polaris Crew Member (3x01)|hostesses]], stewards, cooks, bartenders, and a [[DJ (Polaris) (3x01)|DJ]].
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
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===Space station===
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<gallery>
  
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<gallery captionalign=center>
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Polarisinside.jpg
  
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FAM 301 52.32 Polaris sunset.png|Polaris at sunset
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Polarisside.jpg
  
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FAM 301 12.06 Polaris shuttle approach.png|Polaris shuttle approaching station
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File:Polarisshuttle.jpg
  
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FAM 301 32.24 Polaris with shuttles.png|Two shuttles docked
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File:Polarisshuttleside.jpg
  
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Polaris early concept 1.jpg|Polaris schematics, indicating that the wheel spins at 3.5 RPM <ref group="Note">This is an early concept that does not show the station as seen in the show. In the show, the hallway and the hab modules are on the same level.</ref>
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
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=== Flight deck===
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<gallery captionalign=center>
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FAM 301 12.16 Polaris flight deck.png
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FAM 301 12.26 Polaris flight deck.png
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FAM 301 32.01 Polaris flight deck.png
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FAM 301 12.29 Polaris flight deck monitor.png
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</gallery>
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===Hotel===
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<gallery captionalign=center>
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FAM 301 13.31 Polaris advertising 4.png|Polaris promotion video
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FAM 301 13.29 Polaris advertising 1.png
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FAM 301 13.29 Polaris advertising 3.png
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FAM 301 16.02 Polaris hotel room 1.png|Hotel room
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FAM 301 42.02 Polaris hotel room 2.png|Hotel room
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FAM 301 16.08 Polaris view from rooms.png|View from the rooms
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FAM 301 55.36 Sunrise from Polaris.png|Sunrise seen from Polaris
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FAM 301 15.54 Polaris room controls.png|Touch-screen room controls
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FAM 301 15.54 Polaris room controls closeup.png
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FAM 301 23.34 Polaris restaurant.png|Restaurant/event room with bar
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FAM 301 13.14 Polaris hallway.png|Hallway with elevator to central hub
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</gallery>
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==Notes==
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<references group="Note"/>
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==See also==
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* [[Polaris Space Tours]]
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* [[Polaris shuttle]]
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* [[Polaris hotel disaster]]
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* Other [[space station]]s:
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** [[Skylab]]
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** ''[[Mir]]''
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** [[Phoenix (space station)|''Phoenix'']]
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==External links==
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{{wplink|Rotating wheel space station}}
   
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{{References}}
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[[Category:Space technology]]
  
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[[Category:Space station]]
  

Latest revision as of 08:49, 27 December 2023

This article is about the space station. For the accident, see Polaris hotel disaster. For the space tourism company, see Polaris Space Tours. For the shuttle, see Polaris shuttle. For the episode of season 3, see Polaris (episode).

We're already sending folks up in space, we might as well give them some place to sleep.

Sam Cleveland, in Season 3, Episode 1, "Polaris"


Polaris was a space station in Earth's orbit planned to serve as a hotel. It was constructed between 1990 and 1992 and planned to open in August 1992. Due to a disastrous accident during its soft opening a few weeks earlier, the project could never reach its planned purpose.

The damaged station was then bought by Helios Aerospace, who converted it into the command and habitation module of their spacecraft Phoenix.[1] In the late 1990s, it became a space station again, serving as a transfer station in Martian orbit, still under the name Phoenix.[2]

History[]

The station was operated by Polaris Space Tours, a space tourism company founded by Sam Cleveland and Karen Baldwin in the mid 80s.[3] The two space tourism pioneers unveiled their plans on building an own space station in 1990.[4] Before that, they were already carrying paying customers to low Earth orbitW with their own spaceplane Polaris 1 since early 1987.[3]

By mid 1992, the station was built and ready for operation. Polaris consisted of a spinning habitation ring around a central hub, providing artificial spin gravityW for its guests and crew. The rotating ring consisted of a continuous hallway with 4 elevators to the hub and modules attached to the side facing Earth. These modules were used for the guest rooms and other hotel facilities, as well as for the flight deck, the control room of the station. The hub was where the shuttles docked, and also featured a zero-G activity dome. The hotel offered features like a restaurant & event room with bar, 2 cafés, room service, and a fitness center.[4]

On July 17, 1992, a few weeks before its official opening, the hotel hosted the wedding of Danny and Amber Stevens, which was also supposed to serve as a test run for the hotel. Among the guests were Ed Baldwin and Danielle Poole with their new partners, as well as Danny's brother Jimmy.[4]

Space debris accident[]

Main article: Polaris hotel disaster

During the wedding, an orbital thruster was damaged by debris of a North Korean rocket, causing the station to rotate faster and therefore increasing the gravity levels. After two technicians were killed trying to make repairs, evacuation of the station was ordered. However, after one of the elevators malfunctioned due to the higher gravity, killing Sam Cleveland, they were all shut down. As the gravity still continued to increase, Danny decided to go for an EVA to try to manually close the thruster's valve, as it would be impossible for the guests to escape through ladders with the gravity getting close to 3 G. He managed to do so just as the gravity started to exceed 4 G, the station's maximum tolerance.[4]

Following the disaster and the three deaths that occurred, the hotel was shut down and scheduled to be deconstructed and sold for scrap. However, the company Helios Aerospace offered Karen to purchased the hotel. Helios intended to add engines to the station and turning it into their spacecraft Phoenix for their planned mission to Mars.[1]

Personnel[]

Technical operation[]

Hotel staff[]

Gallery[]

Space station[]

Flight deck[]

Hotel[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ These measurements are taken from an early concept sheet (see gallery) that does not depict the station as seen on screen. They may be inaccurate.
  2. ↑ This is an early concept that does not show the station as seen in the show. In the show, the hallway and the hab modules are on the same level.

See also[]

External links[]

Icon-wikipedia-64x64  Rotating wheel space station on Wikipedia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 For All Mankind TV Series - Season 3, Episode 2: "Game Changer"
  2. ↑ For All Mankind TV Series - Season 4
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bonus Video: Another Giant Leap: 1984-1992 - Polaris Space Tours (1986)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 For All Mankind TV Series - Season 3, Episode 1: "Polaris"
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