Tim Furniss/LONDON
The first commercial lift-off from Sea Launch offshore platform Odyssey is scheduled for August following the maiden flight of a Zenit 3SL from the floating launch site. The booster placed a demonstration payload into geostationary-transfer orbit on 28 March.
The commercial Zenit 3SL booster will carry a Hughes communications satellite in August. Hughes Space and Communications and Space Systems Loral have reservations with Sea Launch for a further 15 satellite launches.
Sea Launch is an international consortium led by Boeing, which holds a 40% stake in the venture. Russia's Energia owns 25%, while Ukraine's Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash hold 15% each. The fifth partner, Norway's Kvaerner, is seeking to sell its 20% stake.
The maiden flight saw the Zenit 3SL launched carrying the 4,500kg (9,900lb) DemoSat dummy payload, representing a communications satellite. The Odyssey was on the equator, 1,500km (930 miles) south-east of Hawaii at 154¼W. This was the first satellite launch into geostationary-transfer orbit to be made from an offshore platform.
The launch was controlled from the Sea Launch Commander booster assembly and launch control vessel anchored nearby. Flight and ground-data information indicated that both systems operated as planned.
Source: Flight International
