Phoenix (spacecraft)

*This article is about the spacecraft. For its mission, see Helios Mars mission. For the space station in the 2000s, see Phoenix (space station). For its former usage, see Polaris Orbital Hotel.*

## Specifications

### Propulsion

Osprey-Methane engines
(in-house developed)

### Components

Rotating habitat
Propulsion module
Mars Surface Access Module
Several one-way landing pods

## Mission Patch

***Phoenix*** is a spacecraft designed by Helios Aerospace, intended as a crewed vehicle to the Martian orbit, with the aim of beating Sojourner 1 and Mars-94 in the Race to Mars in 1994.

The ship stayed in Martian orbit and became a permanent space station, still under the name *Phoenix*. By the 2000s, *Phoenix* had become a transfer station for the new *Unity* spacecraft and a major hub for all incoming and outgoing traffic.

## History

### Construction

After the near-destruction of the orbital hotel *Polaris*, the Polaris company was purchased by Helios along with the ruined hotel, with the aim of reusing the space station as a part of their planned spaceship *Phoenix*, which would spin to create centrifugal gravityW for its crew.

The ship was constructed between 1992 and 1994, during which time it was visited by its construction and operational crew using the Polaris shuttles. Initially it was planned that the craft would be largely automated, however commander Edward Baldwin demanded that the ship be brought back to a more traditional manual configuration, to which Dev Ayesa conceded.

### Mission to Mars

*Main article: Helios Mars mission*
The ship and its mission was revealed to the public during a press conference in 1992, wherein it was announced that the mission would be ready for launch at the next launch window in 1994 and that it would be captained by former NASA astronaut Ed Baldwin after he was removed from NASA's Sojourner-1 mission to Mars.

### Later use

*Main article: Phoenix (space station)*
In the late 1990s, the former spaceship transitioned into a permanent space and transit station in Martian orbit.

## Crew

Part of the crew, from left to right:
Adarsh Sethi, Nick Corrado, Ed Baldwin, *Unknown-1* (almost completely covered), Perez, *Unknown-2*, Sandy Bostik, Lars Hagstrom, *Unknown-3*, Zizzo Glover, Benjamin Harmon, *Unknown-4*, Danny Stevens
Missing: Louisa Mueller, Unknown-5, Unknown-6.

## Technical Details

### Propulsion

Helios used their in-house developed "Osprey-methane" engines, which they attached to the former *Polaris* space station.

### Capacity

As a former space hotel, the habitation modules of *Phoenix* are very spacious and could probably crew dozens of personnel. For their 1994 Mars mission the ship had a crew of 16.

Initially, Dev Ayesa even considered taking artists on the trip. The idea was dropped after protests expressed by Ed Baldwin. The ship has also plenty of space for scientific research instruments and everything needed to access and survive on the Martian surface.

### Modules

Beside the habitation ring and the propulsion modules, *Phoenix* has a Mars Surface Access Module (MSAM) called *Popeye* to transfer personnel and cargo between the mothership in orbit and the Martian surface.

The habitation ring itself contains the ship's bridge and has its former hotel rooms repurposed for crew quarters, a dining room, a med bay, and several research modules. One module is serving as hydroponic garden to grow fresh food during the voyage and the time spent in orbit over Mars.

Several landing pods for one-way use, containing all the important gear to bring down to the Martian surface like 2 mobile HAB rovers, a crawler type rover, 2 drills, and all the equipment for fuel generation and scientific experiments on Mars, are attached to the front of the habitation ring.

The craft itself appears to be around 312 meters long, going by the diameter of Polaris (137 meters at its largest dimension).

## Gallery

*Phoenix* first concept as presented during reveal*Phoenix* spacecraft under construction above Earth*Phoenix* in Earth's orbit, ready to launch (1994)Helios Mission Control: T -17 sec.Mars injection burn*Phoenix* on its way to Mars*Phoenix'* MSAM *Popeye**Phoenix'* MSAM *Popeye**Phoenix* with *Popeye*Breaking burn for Mars orbit insertion (MOI)*Phoenix* over MarsConcept art of the *Phoenix*
## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 About capacity:

	* Dev Ayesa was talking of 15 potential crew spots beside Ed Baldwin.
	* At least 16 crew members have been seen on screen.
	* 10 members are known by name.
	* 9 members have been credited in episodes.
2. ↑ It is currently unknown whether the ship ever returned to Earth before becoming 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*.
3. ↑ These measurements are taken from an early concept sheet of the Polaris station that does not depict the station as seen on screen. It may therefore be inaccurate.

## See also

* Phoenix (space station)
* Helios Aerospace
* Helios Mars mission
* *Sojourner 1*
* *Mars-94*
* Race to Mars

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 3, Episode 2: "Game Changer"
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 4
3. ↑ *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 3, Episode 3: "All In"
4. ↑ *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 3, Episode 4: "Happy Valley"