Jump to content
Join the Unexplained Mysteries community today! It's free and setting up an account only takes a moment.
- Sign In or Create Account -

Sea Launch - Lift Off


Waspie_Dwarf

Recommended Posts

Sea Launch Initiates Countdown for JCSAT-9 Launch


The Boeing / Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 10, 2006 -- The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the JCSAT-9 communications satellite, scheduled for Wednesday, April 12 (revised from April 11), at the opening of a 34-minute launch window, at 4:30 pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:30 GMT).

With launch site operations now underway at 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator, the Odyssey Launch Platform is ballasted to its launch depth and stationed alongside the Sea Launch Commander (Assembly and Command Ship).

A Zenit-3SL rocket will be rolled out of its environmentally protected hangar and automatically erected on the launch pad. The platform will be evacuated, with all personnel safely stationed on the ship, three miles uprange from the platform, during final preparations for launch operations. On launch day, the rocket will lift the 4401 kg (9,703 lbs) JCSAT-9 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on the way to its final orbital position of 132 degrees East Longitude.

This is Sea Launch's second mission for the JSAT Corporation and the second mission with a spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. The high-power hybrid A2100AX spacecraft carries C-band, Ku-band and S-band transponders and is designed for a minimum mission life of 12 years on orbit. JCSAT-9 will join nine other JSAT spacecraft currently in orbit, covering North America, Hawaii, Asia and Oceania with communications and broadcasting services for corporate and inter-company networks as well as international telecommunications services.

Sea Launch will carry a live satellite feed and streaming video of the entire mission, beginning at 4:20 pm PDT (23:20 GMT). Transponder coordinates for downlinking this feed will be posted at: www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html. A simultaneous webcast may be accessed at: www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html

Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the world's most reliable commercial launch services provider. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, yielding best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. For additional information about this mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com


###


Source: Boeing Press Release Edited by Waspie_Dwarf
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • Replies 5
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Waspie_Dwarf

    5

  • 00000000000000000000000000

    1

Sea Launch - Launch Success


From the Sea Launch web site:

Sea Launch has successfully completed the JCSAT-9 mission. A Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off from the Odyssey Launch Platform at 4:30 pm PDT (23:30 GMT). All phases of the flight profile performed as expected. The mission ended with spacecraft separation from the Block DM upper stage, placing the JCSAT-9 communications satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. A ground station in Uralla, Australia, acquired the spacecraft signal. All systems are operating nominally.

The 4401 kg (9,703 lbs) spacecraft will join JSAT's nine spacecraft currently in orbit, providing communications and broadcasting services to businesses throughout Asia.


Source: Sea Launch - Current Launch

I will post the full press release on this launch when it is released by Boeing - Waspie_Dwarf Edited by Waspie_Dwarf
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting, but what's the benefit of launching from sea?

The main benefit gained is that they launch from very close to the equator. The closer to the equator you are the greater the "boost" you get from the earth's rotation. Hence the Zenit can lift more payload from this launch site than it can from a launch site either in Russia or the USA. (this is also the reason the the European Space Agency launches from Kourou in French Guiana).

Another benefit is safety. Launch sites tend to be in remote areas in case of launch accidents. You can't get much more remote than the middle of the ocean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sea Launch Successfully Delivers JCSAT-9 to Orbit


The Boeing / Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 12, 2006 -- Sea Launch Company today successfully delivered the JCSAT-9 communications satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Early data indicate the spacecraft is accurately positioned and in excellent condition.

A Zenit-3SL vehicle lifted off at 4:30pm PDT (23:30 GMT), from the Odyssey Launch Platform, at 154 degrees West Longitude in the equatorial Pacific. All systems performed nominally throughout flight. The Block DM upper stage inserted the 4401 kg (9703 lbs) JCSAT-9 satellite to GTO, on its way to a final orbital position of 132 degrees East Longitude. A ground station in Uralla, Australia, acquired the first signal from the satellite.

Built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), the high-power hybrid A2100AX spacecraft carries C-band, Ku-band and S-band transponders and is designed for a minimum mission life of 12 years on orbit. JCSAT-9 joins nine other JSAT spacecraft currently in orbit, covering North America, Hawaii, Asia and Oceania with communications and broadcasting services for corporate and inter-company networks as well as international telecommunications services.

Following acquisition of the spacecraft's signal, Rob Peckham, interim president and general manager of Sea Launch, congratulated JSAT and Lockheed Martin. "This is our second JSAT mission and our second consecutive launch of a Lockheed Martin satellite," Peckham said. "We're delighted to have achieved another successful launch on behalf of both companies, and we look forward to future opportunities to contribute to your success. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our partners and contractors and the entire Sea Launch team for executing another outstanding Sea Launch mission."

About JSAT Corporation
JSAT Corporation is a leading satellite operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The company owns and operates nine satellites in eight orbital slots, covering North America, Hawaii, Asia and Oceania. JSAT provides a range of services, including digital CS broadcasting service SKY PerfecTV! satellite TV broadcasting, video and data broadcasting services for corporate and inter-company networks and international telecommunications services.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2B.

About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., is the world's most reliable heavy-lift commercial launch service. This international partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch is building a legacy, with one successful launch, one satisfied customer, at a time. For additional information and images of this successfully completed mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com


###


Source: Boeing Press Release
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Launch Photos

user posted image

Credit: Sea Launch

user posted image

Credit: Sea Launch

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.