FAILURE: Sea Launch - Intelsat 27 - February 1, 2013 (0656UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNcNvqTJ7c4&feature=youtu.be

Looks like the engine went out by T+25 seconds...... and it looks like that the rocket wasn't at full thrust at liftoff?

[woods170]

With this fourth failure in 42 flights the failure rate is now near 10 percent. That now classes Zenit 3 as an unreliable launcher.

The overall failure rate for Zenith (both 2 and 3) is now at 15 percent. 12 Failures/partial failures in 80 flights.

[catdlr]

Sea Launch Experiences a Launch Failure on Intelsat 27 Mission

source:  http://www.sea-launch.com/news-q11348-Sea_Launch_Experiences_a_Launch_Failure_on_Intelsat_27_Mission.aspx

Sea Launch AG announced today that approximately 40 seconds after liftoff of the launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft, all telemetry was lost indicating a loss of mission. The spacecraft, built by Boeing Satellite Systems was launched on a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle from the equator on the ocean-based Odyssey launch platform, positioned at 154 degrees West longitude.

Sea Launch will establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to determine the root cause of the incident and will provide additional information, as it becomes available, on the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com.

"We are very disappointed with the outcome of the launch and offer our sincere regrets to our customer, Intelsat, and their spacecraft provider, BSSI,” said Kjell Karlsen, president of Sea Launch AG. “The cause of the failure is unknown, but we are evaluating it and working closely with Intelsat, BSSI, Energia Logistics Ltd. and our Zenit-3SL suppliers. We will do everything reasonably possible to recover from this unexpected and unfortunate event.”

About Sea Launch AG

Sea Launch AG provides launch solutions to the industry’s satellite operator community based on the Zenit launch system. These services include the provision of all–inclusive launch services as well as schedule assurance, financing, risk management; insurance and creative contracting solutions to meet the changing demands of the commercial launch market. Sea Launch AG owns and manages the primary technology, patent and other intellectual property and tangible assets of the company. These include the launch platform Odyssey and the Sea Launch Commander vessels located in the Home Port facility in Long Beach, California, and the unique know–how associated with launching satellites from an ocean–based launch platform located directly on the equator.  Sea Launch AG contracts directly and exclusively with Energia Logistics Ltd. as its technical partner for the delivery and execution of Sea Launch Zenit–3SL launch services.  The Sea Launch system offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites, providing diversity of supply, affordability and flexibility for the industry's satellite operators. For more information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com.

[Jason1701]

Anik posted in sea launch schedule thread that there are plans to shift some launches from Proton-M to Zenit-3SL this year. Wonder what would happen to these plans now...

Move to Falcon 9 instead?

Also, I found it entertaining to mentally put quotation marks around some of the words and phrases in the "About Sea Launch AG" section. FYI.

[catdlr]

Sea Launch Experiences a Launch Failure on Intelsat 27 Mission

source:  http://www.sea-launch.com/news-q11348-Sea_Launch_Experiences_a_Launch_Failure_on_Intelsat_27_Mission.aspx

Sea Launch AG announced today that approximately 40 seconds after liftoff of the launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft, all telemetry was lost indicating a loss of mission.

Probably when the LV hit the water.  As reported above, the engines shut down at T+25 sec.

[woods170]

Anik posted in sea launch schedule thread that there are plans to shift some launches from Proton-M to Zenit-3SL this year. Wonder what would happen to these plans now...

Move to Falcon 9 instead?

Probably not. Falcon 9 has flown four times now. Zenith has flown 80 times.

[just-nick]

Command shutdown for an FTS? Isn't that what Soyuz does? Because that sure looks like shutdown, cough, sputter, and fade away rather than passing behind a cloud. If trajectory was off, command is issued and then it is up for 25 seconds, down for about the same, and then end of mission.

[Art LeBrun]

It seems the pitchover was moving down..........

[woods170]

Command shutdown for an FTS? Isn't that what Soyuz does? Because that sure looks like shutdown, cough, sputter, and fade away rather than passing behind a cloud. If trajectory was off, command is issued and then it is up for 25 seconds, down for about the same, and then end of mission.

Well, FTS stands for Flight Termination System. That does not necessarily means that you blow up the vehicle. Just shutting down the engine also will terminate the flight, albeit with slightly less spectacular results.

[sdsds]

http://www.georing.biz/usefull/SectionALL.pdf
Sea Launch User's Guide, Revision D (2008)

Stage 1 Flight
The Zenit Stage 1 engine provides the thrust for the first 2.5 min of flight. A 10-second vertical rise is followed by a roll to the appropriate mission launch azimuth. The pitch profile is designed to minimize the lateral loads during the periods of highest dynamic pressure. When the axial acceleration reaches 4.0 g’s, the engine is gradually throttled to 50%, which is then maintained until Stage 1 separation.

And

Zenit-3SL Flight Operations
Zenit first- and second-stage flight operations are completely automatic.
A mission event timeline is included in Table 3-1, Section 3.
All Stage 1 and most Stage 2 events occur within the view of the
Assembly and Command Ship. The spent stages fall into the Pacific
Ocean, far short of the coast of South America and the major coastal
shipping lanes. Any deviation of flight trajectory from preprogrammed
limits causes onboard systems to automatically terminate propulsion and
end the mission. This approach to flight safety has been used
successfully for decades and obviates the need for the traditional range
safety officer.

[woods170]

The big question is:

What will this latest SeaLaunch failure do for SeaLaunch? Will this terminate the company permanently? They barely survived the last failure.

[Targeteer]

http://www.georing.biz/usefull/SectionALL.pdf
Sea Launch User's Guide, Revision D (2008)

This approach to flight safety has been used
successfully for decades and obviates the need for the traditional range
safety officer.

Thanks for finding that...

As long as there is nothing near the launch site you don't mind dropping a largely intact giant fuel tank on...

[jcm]

The big question is:

What will this latest SeaLaunch failure do for SeaLaunch? Will this terminate the company permanently? They barely survived the last failure.

I think it depends on the cause. If it turns out to be a software error they might be able to make the case that the design is sound and they just need to tighten their procedures. Also, now that the company is largely run by Energia, maybe it'll be in their interest to keep it afloat.
But I agree the future of the company is in question.

[Targeteer]

The big question is:

What will this latest SeaLaunch failure do for SeaLaunch? Will this terminate the company permanently? They barely survived the last failure.

Presumably the satellite was insured and the platform wasn't damaged this time.

[spectre9]

I see no problems if the platform is good to go for another launch.

Insurance pays out and Sea Launch gets a black mark.

That black mark will do nothing to deter future business. Watch them all go running to ULA 

[sdsds]

Am I remembering correctly? After the NSS-8 launch failure, did Atlas stand down because of potential commonality between RD-170 and RD-180? The Atlas V launch of Landsat 8 (LDCM) is at T-11 days and counting....

[anik]

There should be flight of rocket to the east, but after liftoff the rocket was flying to south. There was excess of limits for angles. And when the rocket has flown far enough from platform, the engine was cut off.

[sdsds]

Intelsat 27 Launch Unsuccessful
Press Release: Intelsat

LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, announced today that at 1:57 a.m. EST, the launch of the Intelsat 27 satellite failed approximately 40 seconds after liftoff. A Zenit 3SL launch vehicle was carrying the satellite built by Boeing. Intelsat 27 was to operate from 304.5º East, an orbital location currently occupied by Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11. The satellite is designed to serve customers in North America, South America, the North Atlantic and Europe.
Sea Launch will establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to determine the cause of the failure. Service to customers on Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11 will not be interrupted as a result of today’s event. Intelsat is committed to working with its customers to identify the most appropriate solutions for service continuity. The satellite and launch were fully insured.
“We are clearly disappointed with the outcome of the launch. The cause of the failure is unknown, but we will work closely with our launch and manufacturing partners to determine the necessary next steps,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Intelsat's control. Known risks include, among others, the risks included in Intelsat’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the political, economic and legal conditions in the markets we are targeting for communications services or in which we operate and other risks and uncertainties inherent in the telecommunications business in general and the satellite communications business in particular. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Intelsat
Dianne VanBeber, [EDIT: US Country Code] 202 944 7406
Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications
[email protected]

[360-180]

Am I remembering correctly? After the NSS-8 launch failure, did Atlas stand down because of potential commonality between RD-170 and RD-180? The Atlas V launch of Landsat 8 (LDCM) is at T-11 days and counting....

All rocket motors have a potential communality. So you need to go to start the trebuchet.

[input~2]

the fate of the next launch for Programme "Sea Launch" will be determined after the completion of the emergency commission on "Zenith".

http://ria.ru/trend/zenit_space_rocket_damage_01022013/