Fifth Sea Launch Mission of 2006

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Sea Launch Prepares for the Launch of XM-4

The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., October 16, 2006 –The Sea Launch team is preparing for its fifth mission of 2006, the launch of the XM-4 satellite. The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed from Home Port in Long Beach, California, and are on their way to the launch site on the Equator to begin launch operations. Liftoff is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window beginning at 4:49pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:49 GMT) on October 26.

The Sea Launch vessels are sailing approximately 3,000 miles to the equatorial launch site in international waters of the Pacific Ocean at 154 degrees West Longitude. Upon arrival, the launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown, ballasting the Launch Platform 65 feet, to launch depth, and performing final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft. A Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5,193 kg (11,448 lbs.) XM-4 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.

Built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, the Boeing 702 spacecraft carries a high-power S-band Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payload built by Alcatel Alenia Space. Like the three XM satellites currently operating in orbit, XM-4 will accommodate XM’s direct broadcast of radio programming to cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and parts of Canada.

The XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Specified for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is designed to yield additional years of service life. This is Sea Launch’s fourth launch for XM Satellite Radio, completing previous XM missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.

Sea Launch will carry live coverage of the XM-4 mission via satellite and also streaming video on the Sea Launch website. We will provide coverage specifics as operations begin at the launch site.

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

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Source: Sea Launch Press Release

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Sea Launch Begins Countdown for XM-4 Launch

The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., October 24, 2006 –The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the XM-4 broadcast satellite on October 26. Liftoff is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window at 4:49 pm Pacific Daylight Time (23:49 GMT).

With launch site operations underway at 154 degrees West Longitude on the Equator, the Sea Launch Commander is now stationed alongside the Odyssey, periodically connected by a "link bridge" during launch preparations. Tomorrow, a day before launch, the team will erect the Zenit-3SL rocket onto the launch pad. Final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft will lead up to the terminal count for liftoff.

The launch platform will be evacuated, with all personnel positioned on the ship, three miles uprange from the platform, during final preparations for liftoff. At launch, the rocket will lift the 5,193 kg (11,448 lbs.) XM-4 satellite to an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.

Built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, the Boeing 702 spacecraft carries a high-power S-band Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payload provided by Alcatel Alenia Space. Like the three XM satellites currently in orbit, XM-4 will broadcast XM's radio programming to over 7 million subscribers in cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada.

The XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Specified for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is designed to yield additional years of service life. This is Sea Launch's fourth launch for XM Satellite Radio, successfully completing previous missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.

Sea Launch will carry live satellite feed and streaming video of the XM-4 mission, beginning at 4:35 pm PDT (23:35 GMT). Transponder coordinates for downlinking this feed will be posted at: www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html. A simultaneous webcast may be viewed at: www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html.

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

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Source: Sea Launch Press Release

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Sea Launch - Current Mission: XM-4

Sea Launch today (October 26, 2006) halted the launch of the XM-4 communications satellite. Following the direction to stop the countdown, the launch team immediately implemented system safing and securing operations, according to procedure. Sea Launch will provide additional information, as available, on the Sea Launch website at www.sea-launch.com

Source: Sea Launch - Current Launch

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Sea Launch - Current Mission: XM-4

The Sea Launch team is currently assessing the issues relating to our halt in the Oct. 26 countdown of the XM-4 launch. The Mission Director stopped the countdown as a result of off-nominal data from our automated launch support equipment. Both the spacecraft and the launch vehicle are in excellent condition.

Source: Sea Launch - Current Launch

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Sea Launch - Current Mission: XM-4

The Sea Launch team has determined the cause of the off-nominal data received from our automated launch support equipment that resulted in a halt to the launch countdown on Oct. 26. The team has implemented corrective action and is ready to proceed with launch operations. We plan to re-start the countdown for another launch attempt of the XM-4 satellite on Monday, Oct. 30. The 58-minute launch window will open at 3:49 pm PST (23:49 GMT). Our launch coverage will begin at 3:35pm PST (23:35 GMT).

Source: Sea Launch - Current Launch

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Sea Launch - Current Mission: XM-4

Sea Launch successfully completed the XM-4 Mission on October 30, 2006. A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off from the Odyssey Launch Platform at 3:49pm PST (23:49 GMT). All phases of the flight profile performed as expected. The mission ended with spacecraft separation from the Block DM upper stage, placing the XM-4 communications satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. A ground station in Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, acquired the spacecraft signal shortly after spacecraft separation. All systems are operating nominally.

Source: Sea Launch - Current Launch

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Sea Launch Successfully Delivers the XM-4 Satellite to Orbit

The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., October 30, 2006 –Sea Launch Company today successfully delivered the XM-4 broadcast 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 3:49 pm Pacific Standard Time (23:49 GMT) from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude in the equatorial Pacific. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight. The Block DM upper stage inserted the 5,193 kg (11,448 lbs.) spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude. A ground station at Hartebeesthoek, near Pretoria, South Africa, acquired the first signal from the satellite in orbit.

Built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, the Boeing 702 spacecraft carries a high-power S-band Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) payload provided by Alcatel Alenia Space. Like the three XM satellites currently in orbit, XM-4 will support XM Radio’s direct broadcast of digital radio programming to cars, homes and portable radios throughout the continental United States and Canada.

Following the completion of the XM-4 mission, Rob Peckham, president and general manager of Sea Launch, congratulated XM Satellite Radio. "Successfully launching this fourth satellite for XM Radio is extremely satisfying for Sea Launch. The success of the XM-4 mission reconfirms a strong and valuable relationship between two goal-oriented companies. We are proud to be XM Satellite Radio’s launch service provider of choice."

"I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Sea Launch team for another outstanding mission. Without the team’s expertise and dedication to excellence, we could not have realized today’s significant accomplishment."

The XM-4 satellite will have 18 kilowatts of total power at the beginning of life on orbit. Specified for a 15-year lifespan, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is designed to yield additional years of service life. This is Sea Launch’s fourth successful launch for XM Satellite Radio, completing previous missions in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.

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

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Source: Sea Launch Press Release

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Launch of XM-4 - October 30, 2006


Photo credit: Sea Launch

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Source: Sea Launch