Sea Launch
Sea Launch is an aerospace company that provides launch of a specially adapted drilling platform near the equator. Starts with Zenit- 3SL carrier rockets, a Zenit- 2 with Block DM upper stage and some modifications for the start of the lake. Are thereby transported payloads with a mass of up to six tons in a Geotransferorbit ( GTO). By 2009, the company has successfully brought in this way almost 30 payloads into space. The Sea Launch AG based in Berne since 2010 majority owned by Energia Overseas Ltd.. , A subsidiary of the Russian space company RKK Energia.
Background, previous, similar projects
Sea Launch was not the first dislocated to the sea launch platform. In the 1960s off the coast of Kenya, operated by the Italy San Marco platform was anchored to the start of Scout and sounding rockets. From the jack-up rig "Barbara" took place at the beginning of the 1970s, some missile tests on behalf of the Bundeswehr.
Russia's Cosmodrome have towards the equatorial space stations have the disadvantage that a rocket launched there with the same output can carry less payload into GTO. This is because, on the one hand changes the additional path ( adjustment of the orbital plane ) are required, and moreover far from the equator of the rotation speed of the earth providing a lower part of the necessary for the orbital velocity. Therefore enhanced missile units and more fuel per kilogram of payload are required, or the payload of a particular carrier is reduced accordingly. This cost-driving locational disadvantage of the otherwise competitive Russian launcher systems, it was to compensate.
Origins and History of Sea Launch
After the first studies 1993 1995 was the Sea Launch project. The next four years were used to build the infrastructure. For example, the command ship " Sea Launch Commander" was built and from a disused oil rig was the launch platform " Odyssey ". The home port of " Sea Launch Commander" and " Odyssey " is Long Beach in California. The first flight with a dummy satellite took place in March 1999, the first commercial flight was conducted in October of the same year.
Sea Launch was founded in 1995 as an international consortium of four companies: Boeing ( USA, share 40% ), responsible for payloads and starts, RKK Energia (Russia, 25%), manufacturer of the Block DM upper stage, KB Yuzhnoye / Juschmasch (Ukraine, 15%), manufacturer of the zenith, and Aker Kvaerner (Norway, 20%), responsible for the launch platform " Odyssey " and the command ship " Sea Launch Commander".
False start NSS 8 in January 2007
When attempting to start the NSS -8 communications satellite exploded on January 30, 2007 Zenit- 3SL a launcher directly to the " Odyssey " launch platform. Because of the explosion was a metal part in a fuel pump. People came here not to damage because the crew withdraws during startup each case to the " Sea Launch Commander". The platform thereby suffered limited damage, but was already on 1 February 2007 again manned by a full crew. Published by Sea Launch on February 3rd picture shows the platform in a substantially intact state, the starting position in the Pacific on its own leaving. In early April, the Sea Launch in October 2007 as the date for the next rocket launch known.
Insolvency and restart
On 22 June 2009 had to file under Chapter 11 under U.S. bankruptcy laws Sea Launch bankruptcy. This was due to over-indebtedness - assets of an estimated 100 to 500 million U.S. dollars were offset by liabilities of up to two billion U.S. dollars.
As of October 27, 2010 the bankruptcy proceeding to be terminated after RKK Energia, which was established for this purpose subsidiary Energia Overseas Ltd.. had acquired a 85% majority in Sea Launch. The launch of the " Odyssey " platform were resumed in the course of 2011.
Subsidiary Land Launch
The subsidiary " Land Launch " brings a three-stage Zenit- 3SLB from Baikonur satellites into GTO since April 2008. For this, the Zenit- 3SL was slightly modified and launched by the Zenit -2 launch system. Due to the favorable location of the cosmodrome Baikonur rocket can carry only 3.6 tonnes to GTO. The advantage of the country launches, however, is that the start up costs are much lower than at a start of the lake. Also a two-stage Zenit- 2SLB is planned. It could carry up to 12 tons to the ISS.
Expiration of a start
A few weeks before a start, the rocket is loaded into a hangar on the launch platform, go after both the ship and the launch platform to a point in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 154 degrees west longitude near Kiritimati, about 2200 km south of Hawaii lies. The platform is not fixed, but is held in place by their drive at a constant position. Maintaining the desired position is controlled by the GPS. But that comes with the unpredictable ocean currents, an additional uncertainty factor for a start it.
Shortly before a scheduled start, the floating bodies of the platform are flooded and thus lowered the platform. After that, the rocket is erected and the starting team will change to the Sea Launch Commander. The launch itself is remotely controlled.
In addition to be present on the launch pad, the rocket Sea Launch Commander carry more missiles. Of this, however, no use is made, as the start rate is relatively low and so for both ships will have enough time to return to the home port.