Author Topic: Sea Launch Future (Read 155160 times)

D_Dom · « **Reply #40 on:** 01/23/2015 03:17 am »

I still think it is a good idea. World geopolitics cannot be ignored, it is rocket science after all. Never expect it to be cheap or easy.

SIM city · « **Reply #41 on:** 02/04/2015 08:22 pm »

Company CEO did an interview today (in Russian). From google translate, it appears they are now reviewing the feasibility of other vehicles and other locations with a decision to be made in the next two to three months.

http://ria.ru/space/20150204/1045827124.html

SIM city · « **Reply #42 on:** 02/04/2015 08:22 pm »

P.S. The SL website appears to be down. Not sure if that is permanent.

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #43 on:** 02/06/2015 07:41 am »

Quote from: baldusi on 01/21/2015 01:27 pm

Quote from: woods170 on 01/21/2015 07:29 am
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 01/20/2015 10:22 pm
If it ever were to be used again, that would be for the benefit of those who were involved for the prior launch.

But since that launch, a lot has happened that change the economics that they would be competing with. It might not be worth the trouble to resurrect, but to scrap.

And given the performance of SeaLaunch end-to-end, I doubt this will be tried again. This era has ended.
Are you familiar with this phrase?

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings"

The era ends when SeaLaunch announces they will fold permanently.
I believe the phrase is "It ain't over until the fat lady stops singing". This is taken from the opera and is usually applied to sports. The opera ends when there's no more singing, not a second before. It means that while there's time in the clock you can still win (or even) any match. I think it is quite applicable here, too.

Actually, he got it exactly right. It's your attempt to correct him which is wrong.

Here's the Wikipedia page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_ain%27t_over_till_the_fat_lady_sings

If you're going to criticize someone, it's probably best to spend at least 30 seconds Googling to check the facts first.

kq6ea · « **Reply #44 on:** 02/09/2015 08:20 pm »

Interesting article in this week's Satnews about the Zenit:

http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=1637484549

owais.usmani · « **Reply #45 on:** 03/24/2015 01:53 pm »

The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

edkyle99 · « **Reply #46 on:** 03/24/2015 02:34 pm »

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm

The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

Closer to the equator than Long Beach, and closer to Thales and Airbus than Kourou. Has to transit Hormuz though. Busy sea lanes, and pirates!

- Ed Kyle

Lars-J · « **Reply #47 on:** 03/24/2015 05:19 pm »

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm

The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

But what are they going to launch from the platform?

edkyle99 · « **Reply #48 on:** 03/24/2015 05:53 pm »

Quote from: Lars-J on 03/24/2015 05:19 pm

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm
The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

But what are they going to launch from the platform?

Perhaps when the first "meetings" were held between UAE and Russia, Zenit 3SL was still a possibility. The story suggests that "the intensity of negotiations" have since decreased "possibly due to the fall in .... oil prices", which could be a way to sidestep discussing how the Russo-Ukrainian situation has affected Zenit's future.

Note that Sputnik news service is owned by the Russian government.

- Ed Kyle

Kabloona · « **Reply #49 on:** 03/24/2015 06:00 pm »

Quote from: Lars-J on 03/24/2015 05:19 pm

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm
The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

But what are they going to launch from the platform?

This is why they might buy it, basically to bolster their own space program, not because it makes economic sense, but it's hard to know how much wishful thinking it involves on the part of Sea Launch owners.

Quote

Two years ago, the UAE acquired its own space agency. With the acquisition of "Sea Launch" the UAE would receive technical specialists and an existing infrastructure. In 2021, the UAE plans on sending their spacecraft to Mars.

There was a similar article earlier that said Odyssey might be going to some unidentified South American country where it would benefit from launching closer to the equator.

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2015/03/09/new-rocket-new-location-two-possibilities-for-sea-launch-this-year/

Seems like a lot of trial balloons floating around.

GClark · « **Reply #50 on:** 03/24/2015 08:17 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 03/24/2015 02:34 pm

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm
The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html
Closer to the equator than Long Beach, and closer to Thales and Airbus than Kourou. Has to transit Hormuz though. Busy sea lanes, and pirates!

- Ed Kyle

The UAE has two ports, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, outside the Persian Gulf. Both, while not as large as Dubai or Abu Dabhi, are capable of handling the Sea Launch platform and ship.

Space Ghost 1962 · « **Reply #51 on:** 03/24/2015 08:21 pm »

Expect much more of this. But no definite deal. Lots of noise signifying ... nothing.

kq6ea · « **Reply #52 on:** 04/02/2015 09:41 pm »

Yeah, it's like the old joke..."There was an explosion in the boarding house, and roomers are flying".

Prober · « **Reply #53 on:** 04/02/2015 10:41 pm »

Quote from: Lars-J on 03/24/2015 05:19 pm

Quote from: owais.usmani on 03/24/2015 01:53 pm
The United Arab Emirates expressed interest in the purchase of the international spacecraft launch platform "Sea Launch”.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150324/1019940920.html

But what are they going to launch from the platform?

You go into the commercial launch business. The UAE is in so many businesses now, this would be a natural.

kq6ea · « **Reply #54 on:** 04/02/2015 11:05 pm »

And speaking of "Current Rumors", I heard some back-channel chatter about the ships going to Saint Petersburg to be refit for the Angara launch vehicle.

As Space Ghost says, much noise about nothing.......

Ludus · « **Reply #55 on:** 04/12/2015 12:36 am »

Too bad Jim already crushed SpaceX using it. It has such a nice Bond villain vibe. How is Elon going to service his stealthy secret space station?

kq6ea · « **Reply #56 on:** 04/12/2015 01:39 am »

Well, I didn't "crush" them. All I know is that they were primarily interested in the PPF.

HOWEVER......if Energia were to ever shut down, and pull out of Long beach, I'm pretty sure The Port of Long Beach would welcome a new tenant with open arms......

Ludus · « **Reply #57 on:** 04/12/2015 10:16 pm »

Quote from: kq6ea on 04/12/2015 01:39 am

Well, I didn't "crush" them. All I know is that they were primarily interested in the PPF.

HOWEVER......if Energia were to ever shut down, and pull out of Long beach, I'm pretty sure The Port of Long Beach would welcome a new tenant with open arms......

That is a surprisingly spacious piece of land where they dock the Commander and Odyessy. Very convenient for a factory that wants to load directly onto ships, and not very far south of Hawthorne.

kq6ea · « **Reply #58 on:** 04/13/2015 03:44 am »

That it is.

One of the reasons Boeing planted it there was easy access from El Segundo and Boeing Satellite Systems.

sdsds · « **Reply #59 on:** 04/13/2015 03:56 am »

Quote from: Ludus on 04/12/2015 10:16 pm

That is a surprisingly spacious piece of land where they dock the Commander and Odyessy. Very convenient for a factory that wants to load directly onto ships, and not very far south of Hawthorne.

That's a nice thought but to exactly what spacious piece of land are you referring? The area between the two lanes of Nimitz Road?