Launch: Polar II-IV

Customer:

• Integrated Integrals

Mission Objectives:

1. Place satellite into designated polar orbit around Kerbin.

Crew:

• ​None

Year 3, day 391: POLAR II

The launch window called for another night launch.

The satellite finally crosses into the daytime side of the planet.

The upper stage probably deployed the satellite too early, resulting in the satellite not having enough fuel to insert into the correct orbit.

Year 3, day 414: POLAR III

POLAR III launched into the incorrect inclination, and was terminated before reaching a stable orbit.

Year 4, Day 12: POLAR IV

The problem launching into negative inclinations will be sorted out later. In the meantime, it's back to launching at night.

Launch and satellite deployment were nominal.

A 12.8m/s burn at apoapsis places the satellite into a stable orbit.

Then, a 106m/s burn at periapsis raises the apoapsis to over 4.6Mm.

A long, 426m/s burn at apoapsis circularizes into an intermediate orbit.

One final short burn adjusts the apoapsis.