Author Topic: Sea Launch Future  (Read 152145 times)

Offline kraisee

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #80 on: 07/17/2015 09:36 pm »
A few months ago I spoke with someone who confirmed the registration for Odyssey had already been transferred to the Chinese, though I was told it was for scrap value.

I told Chris at the time, but he was unable to get 2nd source verification.

Looks to me like my source may indeed have legs.

Ross.
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Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #81 on: 07/17/2015 09:51 pm »
This is going to get very interesting.

There's a LOT of ITAR controlled equipment on the two ships, and I wonder if they'll remove it?

Offline Helodriver

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #82 on: 07/17/2015 10:07 pm »
A few months ago I spoke with someone who confirmed the registration for Odyssey had already been transferred to the Chinese, though I was told it was for scrap value.

I told Chris at the time, but he was unable to get 2nd source verification.

Looks to me like my source may indeed have legs.

Ross.

They bought the Ex Soviet Varyag aircraft carrier hull also, ostensibly for scrapping and then to make a tourist resort. We see how that worked out.  ;)  I expect they are actively studying which Long March variant would be most compatible with the Sea Launch infrastructure.

Offline D_Dom

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #83 on: 07/20/2015 12:34 am »
Interesting times...
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Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #84 on: 07/21/2015 12:44 am »
Or we could say "Curiouser and Curiouser"!

Offline Helodriver

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #85 on: 07/30/2015 05:24 am »
Thanks to fellow NSF'er D_Dom For setting up the tour of the Sea Launch Commander last Monday. Great to finally see the inside after only seeing the exterior for the last 17 years! Too bad about the no cameras policy, but that's how it goes. I did manage to shoot an ever higher resolution multimegapixel composite image that shows excellent surface detail.

Judging from the wildlife that call the launch platform pontoons home, Seal Launch might be a better name ;)

Offline Prober

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #86 on: 08/22/2015 05:19 pm »
Looks like the assets are being marketed

"•Igor Komarov did not exclude possibility of re-dislocation of frozen Sea Launch program, Odyssey platform and Commander ship, to Brazil's coast;"

http://spacedigest.net/en/articles/what-roscosmos-showed-and-said-during-the-paris-air-show

Not sure what launcher it would use.
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Online ZachS09

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #87 on: 08/22/2015 07:46 pm »
Thanks to fellow NSF'er D_Dom For setting up the tour of the Sea Launch Commander last Monday. Great to finally see the inside after only seeing the exterior for the last 17 years! Too bad about the no cameras policy, but that's how it goes. I did manage to shoot an ever higher resolution multimegapixel composite image that shows excellent surface detail.

Judging from the wildlife that call the launch platform pontoons home, Seal Launch might be a better name ;)

They should make the seal-infested platform pontoons a wildlife preserve; no hunters or poachers would ever go near them.
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Offline Prober

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #88 on: 09/30/2015 02:17 pm »
Boeing Wins U.S. Court Judgment Against Russian, Ukrainian Sea Launch Partners

http://spacenews.com/boeing-wins-u-s-court-judgment-against-russian-ukrainian-sea-launch-partners/#sthash.b9o3kQrE.dpuf

"In a ruling dated Sept. 28, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said the ties that bound the Sea Launch partners were clearly written into the company’s founding documents."

The court’s decision sets up what is likely to be a brief non-jury trial, scheduled for Nov. 10, during which Boeing appears all but certain to be awarded the $356 million it has long sought.
2017 - Everything Old is New Again.
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Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #89 on: 10/05/2015 11:18 pm »
Interesting.

Boeing wins the trial, former partners refuse to pay, Boeing slaps a lien on all the assets, and good luck to Energia in trying to sell Sea Launch.

Or maybe the former partners are hoping it goes that way. They could just walk away without having to dispose of Sea Launch, and leave Boeing stuck with disposing the assets.
« Last Edit: 10/05/2015 11:26 pm by kq6ea »

Offline Prober

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #90 on: 11/27/2015 06:28 pm »
This is going to get very interesting.

There's a LOT of ITAR controlled equipment on the two ships, and I wonder if they'll remove it?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32731.msg1450210#msg1450210

"If the Commander is still in Long Beach, it might not be empty.

I believe that there were two different payload integration events, the integration of the payload with the launch shroud which took place at Astrotech's facility, and then the later integration of the payload shroud with the rocket"

Your thoughts any Zenits in storage?
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Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #91 on: 11/27/2015 11:59 pm »
The warehouse was empty when I left, but I think they might have had one Block-DM left onboard the ACS.

Since I drive by there twice a week, I would have noticed if any ships had docked to unload a Zenit, so I'm guessing the warehouse is still empty.

This story has more twists and turns than ten miles of mountain roads. It'll be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

Jim

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #92 on: 11/30/2015 05:45 pm »
Boeing Wins U.S. Court Judgment Against Russian, Ukrainian Sea Launch Partners
http://spacenews.com/boeing-wins-u-s-court-judgment-against-russian-ukrainian-sea-launch-partners/
Quote
In a ruling dated Sept. 28, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said the ties that bound the Sea Launch partners were clearly written into the company’s founding documents."

The court’s decision sets up what is likely to be a brief non-jury trial, scheduled for Nov. 10, during which Boeing appears all but certain to be awarded the $356 million it has long sought.
Bump--Any news on the trial?
« Last Edit: 11/30/2015 05:46 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #93 on: 11/30/2015 06:01 pm »
The warehouse was empty when I left, but I think they might have had one Block-DM left onboard the ACS.

Since I drive by there twice a week, I would have noticed if any ships had docked to unload a Zenit, so I'm guessing the warehouse is still empty.

This story has more twists and turns than ten miles of mountain roads. It'll be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

Jim
If a Block-DM stage remains, would it have any value?

Any possibility that it could be modified to a Proton Block-DM or Angara Block-DM? (theoretically/practically)
« Last Edit: 11/30/2015 06:08 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #94 on: 11/30/2015 06:29 pm »
That's way outside of my expertise, as I worked on the "American"
 side of the house for Boeing.

IIRC, the data programmed into the Block-DM for flight was only good for a certain amount of time, so after sitting so long, it would need to be reprogrammed.

I don't know if that can be done locally, or if it needs to go back to the factory.....

Offline Prober

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #95 on: 11/30/2015 07:27 pm »
That's way outside of my expertise, as I worked on the "American"
 side of the house for Boeing.

IIRC, the data programmed into the Block-DM for flight was only good for a certain amount of time, so after sitting so long, it would need to be reprogrammed.

I don't know if that can be done locally, or if it needs to go back to the factory.....

my guess it might be of the same batch as the Landlaunch Zenits, and "expired" might be the word.
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Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #96 on: 11/30/2015 08:22 pm »
That's way outside of my expertise, as I worked on the "American"
 side of the house for Boeing.

IIRC, the data programmed into the Block-DM for flight was only good for a certain amount of time, so after sitting so long, it would need to be reprogrammed.

I don't know if that can be done locally, or if it needs to go back to the factory.....

my guess it might be of the same batch as the Landlaunch Zenits, and "expired" might be the word.
I draw this conclusion: IF a Block-DM remains, it may end up as a museum artifact (preferable fate), or it will become scrap (not preferred fate).
Support your local planetarium! (COVID-panic and forward: Now more than ever.) My current avatar is saying "i wants to go uppies!" Yes, there are God-given rights. Do you wish to gainsay the Declaration of Independence?

Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #97 on: 11/30/2015 11:44 pm »
Or I suppose it could be sent back to the factory and re-purposed.

Don't they still use the DM with other carrier rockets?

Offline kq6ea

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #98 on: 12/07/2015 04:09 pm »
Looks like they're actively seeking buyers.......again.

Jim

http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=25117559

Offline arachnitect

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Re: Sea Launch Future
« Reply #99 on: 12/07/2015 05:42 pm »
Who has a use for it, the industrial base to support it, and the money to pay?

Maybe China? More likely it gets scrapped. Perhaps there is some scenario where Commander is scrapped but Odyssey survives?

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