Author Topic: LIVE: Sea Launch - Koreasat 5 - Aug 22 (Read 34162 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #80 on:** 08/22/2006 04:55 am »

Spacecraft acquired by ground stations.

Nice job Sea Launch

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #81 on:** 08/22/2006 05:31 am »

Post launch Sea Launch conference:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=3944&posts=2#M58861

jacqmans · « **Reply #82 on:** 08/22/2006 08:03 am »

Sea Launch Delivers Koreasat 5 Satellite to Orbit

Long Beach, Calif., August 21, 2006 –Sea Launch Company today successfully delivered the Koreasat 5 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 8:27 pm PDT (03:27 GMT, Aug. 22) from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude in the equatorial Pacific. All systems performed nominally throughout flight. The Block DM upper stage inserted the 4,448 kg (9,806 lb) Spacebus 4000 C1 platform to GTO, on its way to a final orbital position of 113 degrees East Longitude. A ground station at Fucino, Italy, acquired the first signal from the satellite shortly after spacecraft separation.

Built by Alcatel Alenia Space for the KT Corporation and Korea's Agency for Defense Development, the hybrid multi-band satellite will be part of South Korea's new high-capacity Spacecom System over the Asia-Pacific. This is Sea Launch's fourth successful mission of 2006 – two additional missions are planned for this year.

Following the completion of the Koreasat 5 mission, Rob Peckham, president and general manager of Sea Launch, congratulated the Agency for Defense Development, KT Corporation and Alcatel Alenia Space. "We take great pride in successfully delivering South Korea's first dual-use spacecraft," he said. "At Sea Launch, we strive to exceed our customers' expectations and build collaborative relationships built on honesty and trust."

"I want to extend our thanks to everyone involved in achieving this milestone event. In particular, I want to thank our partners and contractors and the entire Sea Launch team for continuing to build our legacy, one successful launch, one satisfied customer at a time."

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. For additional information and images of this successfully completed mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com

###

Contact: Paula Korn, 562.499.4729 or 562.254.5684 (mobile), [email protected]

jacqmans · « **Reply #83 on:** 08/22/2006 08:05 am »

UK Shuttle Clan · « **Reply #84 on:** 08/22/2006 10:42 am »

Those promo videos sound like really something. Well done to Sea Launch.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #85 on:** 08/22/2006 11:54 am »

Local coverage:
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200608/kt2006082217083511860.htm

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200608/kt2006082216110011780.htm

edkyle99 · « **Reply #86 on:** 08/22/2006 01:59 pm »

Quote

Zachstar - 21/8/2006 11:40 PM

Man these guys must be making some SERIOUS profit. I mean look at how fast they prepare and launch major communication sats. I read that their schedule was completely full for this year and most of next. I can really see why with this kind of smooth operation.

I don't know about profits, but it is worth noting that Launch Platform Odyssey has matched Baikonur's famed world's-busiest Area 1 Pad 5 so far this year with four launches. The platform, all by itself, has performed as many launches so far this year as all of the pads at Cape Canaveral. It is tied with Vandenberg AFB (along with Canaveral) as the world's second busiest launch range so far this year.

- Ed Kyle

meiza · « **Reply #87 on:** 08/22/2006 02:19 pm »

The xinhuanet news is about some other satellite launched from plesetsk.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #88 on:** 08/22/2006 04:01 pm »

Thanks, corrected.

Jim · « **Reply #89 on:** 08/22/2006 04:39 pm »

Quote

edkyle99 - 22/8/2006 9:46 AM

Quote
Zachstar - 21/8/2006 11:40 PM

Man these guys must be making some SERIOUS profit. I mean look at how fast they prepare and launch major communication sats. I read that their schedule was completely full for this year and most of next. I can really see why with this kind of smooth operation.

I don't know about profits, but it is worth noting that Launch Platform Odyssey has matched Baikonur's famed world's-busiest Area 1 Pad 5 so far this year with four launches. The platform, all by itself, has performed as many launches so far this year as all of the pads at Cape Canaveral. It is tied with Vandenberg AFB (along with Canaveral) as the world's second busiest launch range so far this year.

- Ed Kyle

Launch Platform Odyssey is a pad. The "range' is the area in the south Pacific and TDRSS

JIS · « **Reply #90 on:** 08/22/2006 05:07 pm »

Do you understand now why Atlas can't compete at comercial satellite market?

edkyle99 · « **Reply #91 on:** 08/22/2006 08:32 pm »

Quote

Jim - 22/8/2006 11:26 AM

Quote
edkyle99 - 22/8/2006 9:46 AM

Quote
Zachstar - 21/8/2006 11:40 PM

Man these guys must be making some SERIOUS profit. I mean look at how fast they prepare and launch major communication sats. I read that their schedule was completely full for this year and most of next. I can really see why with this kind of smooth operation.

I don't know about profits, but it is worth noting that Launch Platform Odyssey has matched Baikonur's famed world's-busiest Area 1 Pad 5 so far this year with four launches. The platform, all by itself, has performed as many launches so far this year as all of the pads at Cape Canaveral. It is tied with Vandenberg AFB (along with Canaveral) as the world's second busiest launch range so far this year.

- Ed Kyle

Launch Platform Odyssey is a pad. The "range' is the area in the south Pacific and TDRSS

Some oldtimers I worked with used to use "range" as a slang term to desribe the whole place (pads, hangers, control buildings, tracking and communications assets, etc.). But you are right. A "Range" isn't a "Pad" isn't a "Cosmodrome" isn't a "Center", etc..

Launch Platform Odyssey has matched the year-to-date orbital launch totals of all four active Cape Canaveral space launch pads. It has also matched the orbital totals of all four active (and one soon-to-be active) space launch pads at Vandenberg AFB.

To date, Baikonur has hosted nine orbital launch attempts from four pads in 2006, with two failures. Sea Launch is tied with Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg AFB for second with four launches. Kourou and Plestesk have each hosted three launches. Tanegashima has seen two launches. Eight other facilities, included Kennedy Space Center, have managed one launch attempt apiece.

- Ed Kyle

anik · « **Reply #92 on:** 08/23/2006 05:29 pm »

My congratulations with successful launch!...

The Odyssey platform and the Sea Launch Commander ship are returning to Long Beach...

jacqmans · « **Reply #93 on:** 08/23/2006 09:15 pm »

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
about KoreaSat 5 spacecraft injection from
the Sea Launch Rocket and Space Complex

August 22 2006.

Seafaring space launching facility in the Pacific Ocean – MCC-M in Korolev.
At 07:27 Moscow Daylight Saving Time (03:27 GMT), the seagoing Launch Platform (LP) Odyssey belonging to the space rocket launching system Sea Launch launch an Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV) Zenit-3SL carrying as its payload KoreaSat 5 spacecraft (SC).
The spacecraft is intended for providing various communications services from the geostationary orbit to users in the Asian-Pacific region. The spacecraft slot is at 113E.
The launch objective is to deliver the 4.5-ton spacecraft into a geotransfer target orbit.
The spacecraft insertion into this orbit from an intermediate orbit established by the two-stage launch vehicle Zenit-2S was performed by the space upper stage Block DM-SL designed and built by S.P.Korolev RSC Energia.
The upper stage delivered the SC, with high accuracy, to its target orbit with 0 deg. Inclination, 2925 km perigee and 35636 km apogee.
In accordance with the mission plan, the upper stage main engine performed two burns. The first burn, which was about 8.5 minutes in duration, occurred 10 seconds after the separation of the upper stage DM-SL carrying the SC from the the LV. The second burn of about 3 minutes occurred 34 minutes after the completion of the first burn.
The SC separated from the upper stage at 8:32 Moscow Time.
The flight of the upper stage carrying the SC was analyzed by RSC Energia experts working within the Lead Operations Control Team (LOCT) at the Mission Control Center (MCC-M) in Korolev, Moscow Region, who were in constant contact with the Control Center on-board ACS.
The analysis of telemetry data transmitted from the upper stage was supported by US and Russian space data reception/transmission assets.

For information:
This was the fourtht launch under the Sea Launch program in 2006 and the 22nd launch under this entire program.
In the overall history of the upper stages of Block D and DM types that was the 261st successful mission since they have been put into operation.
Upper stages of Block D and DM type developed and manufactured by S.P.Korolev RSC Energia were designed for transporting spacecraft from low-Earth orbits to high-energy orbits, including GEO, as well as for spacecraft injection into trajectories that would take them to the Moon and planets of our solar system.
They have been in use since 1967, there have been 11 modifications, out of which 6 have been developed since mid-1990s. They are powered by environmentally friendly propellant components (liquid oxygen and kerosene). Currently they are operated together with heavy-class LV Proton-K and medium-class LV Zenit-2S.
The launches of spacecraft from the sea-based launch site are performed under a program of launch services provided by the Sea Launch company, which has as its stockholders Boeing of US, S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia of Russia, Kvaerner Invest Norge AS of Norway, and Ukrainian aerospace companies Yuzhmashzavod production association and M.K.Yangel State Design Bureau Yuzhnoe.
RSC Energia is the prime for the Sea Launch rocket segment and is responsible for its outfitting and integration in the overall system, providing, together with its subcontractors, the manufacturing and operation of the upper stage Block DM-SL as the third stage of Zenit-3SL LV.
During the launch the Odyssey Launch Platform (LP) is stationed in the vicinity of the Christmas Island in the Pacific, at 154 deg.E on the equator. Pre-launch processing and launch are controlled from the Control Center onboard the Assembly and Command Ship (ACS) Sea Launch Commander. The pre-launch processing begins 5 hours before the launch, and is performed in the automatic mode. At 3 hours before the launch, the crew of the platform and the personnel supporting the ILV processing on-board the LP are evacuated on a helicopter to the ACS, which stays at a safe distance from the platform.

RSC "Energia" press service

yinzer · « **Reply #94 on:** 08/23/2006 09:34 pm »

It's also worth noting that Sea Launch, like pretty much everyone else out there, is operating at about 20% of capacity. The Sea Launch Commander can carry three Zenits at once, and transfer them to the Odyssey at sea.

censored account · « **Reply #95 on:** 09/03/2006 08:28 pm »

Quote

yinzer - 23/8/2006 2:21 PM

It's also worth noting that Sea Launch, like pretty much everyone else out there, is operating at about 20% of capacity. The Sea Launch Commander can carry three Zenits at once, and transfer them to the Odyssey at sea.

Transferring a Zenit at sea (from the command ship to the launch platform) is something I'd never want to do. Even with calm seas this is a high risk evolution at best.

Bob

sbt · « **Reply #96 on:** 09/03/2006 09:03 pm »

How sure are you that its a 'high risk evolution at best'?

SL Odyssey has, IIRC, wave motion damping and is very nearly static in the launch configuration. Wave motion compensation on lifting gear has been around for at least two decades in the North Sea oil industry and resupply of, admittedly smaller, loads in quite high sea states is routine. Large scale wave motion compensation was used in the successful recovery of the Kursk so size isn't necessarily an issue.

I must admit that I'm not an expert in these areas but it doesn't seem beyond the realms of possibility that the process could be made reasonably low risk.

Rick

censored account · « **Reply #97 on:** 09/04/2006 08:17 pm »

It's not the launch platform that really has the issue, it’s the command ships ability to stay rock stable for those minute (s) needed when the lift starts. The pitch/roll/yaw of the command ship and the inability to steady those forces for a guaranteed safe lift is why this cannot be done on the open ocean. The only method is to do the transfer is in a safe harbor were those forces are minimal and can be controlled. Also remember we are talking about a 200 foot long 100+ ton fragile rocket that is very unforgiving to shipping damage.

Bob

sbt · « **Reply #98 on:** 09/05/2006 12:51 am »

Ah, I see you have misunderstood me. I don't know the real term but the 'Wave motion compensation' I am talking about doesn't require a stable platform to lift from.

In the North Sea implementation it keeps the cargo hook (or hooks) of a crane mounted on the stationary rig static relative to the platform being lifted from. In the North Sea this need only be reasonably approximate so, as I understand it, only the motion of the waves below the rig is sensed. This then used to drive a rapid haul in/out system attached to the crane to move the hook in sync with the waves.

The haul in/out device is separate from the main winch, the lifting cable is led round two sets of pulleys, one of which is attached to a hydraulic jack. Moving the jack closes or extends the gap between the pulley sets, shortening or lengthening the cable rapidly and precisely.

In the Kursk salvage application a similar system was used to keep the multiple lifting cable sets and attachment points stationary under the water as the barge from which they depended moved under the action of the waves. This prevented any dynamic strain being placed on the cables or the damaged submarine, both of which were under considerable strain under static conditions alone.

To go back to the North Sea application, the wave compensation is gradually 'washed out' as the load clears the supply ship to go from static relative to the supply ship to static relative to the oil platform.

With the use of Laser Ranging or something similar between platform and ship and a much more tightly controlled environment it should be possible to do much better than the already impressive Oil Industry performance. Lateral placement should be a non-issue as very high horizontal position holding accuracies are already achieved routinely by dive support ships etc.

This may not be the way Sea Launch operate in reality, but I don't regard it as implausible that such a transfer could be a relatively routine affair (as much _anything_ is routine in spaceflight). It may actually be impractical at the moment but I'm not sure that it _needs_ to be.

Rick

Jim · « **Reply #99 on:** 09/05/2006 02:07 am »

Cargo is one thing, a LV is another. Sealaunch plan was always to go find a sheltered area for the transfer.