Sea Launch Takes Proactive Steps to Address Manifest Gap

[Chris Bergin]

Sea Launch in a lot of trouble. I'm told it's a lot worse than this:

http://www.sea-launch.com/news/11415

[Nomadd]

 I kind of doubt all those laid off employees are just going to be sitting around waiting for a call to go back to work when they decide to "ramp up" for operations again. Sounds like a very artfully worded press release.

[kq6ea]

Indeed it is.

[kq6ea]

I can't believe all the crickets I hear regarding this post.

Jim

[Lar]

I can't believe all the crickets I hear regarding this post.

Jim

I feel sorry for them but what more is there to say? There is other news that may have drawn some attention too.

[woods170]

I can't believe all the crickets I hear regarding this post.

Jim

SeaLaunch being in trouble is SOP for them. I'm not surprised about the measures now being taken. I am surprised however that it took them this long to implement those measures.
How long can a launch provider survive on an average launch rate of roughly 2.5 launches/year?

[jacqmans]

August 25, 2014
 Launches from the Sea Launch Complex are planned to be resumed after a 1-year recess

http://www.energia.ru/en/news/news-2014/news_08-25_2.html

The Sea Launch Company declared that according to plans the launch missions under the Sea Launch program are suspended for 1 year. The enhancement of the launch activity is expected at a period of the mid 2015 to the mid 2016.

Due to the necessity to decrease expenditures under the Sea Launch program at this period is proposed to reduce a number of the personnel providing the launch operations. In this case the Company keeps the key corporative and engineering personnel that will allow the Complex hereinafter to carry out the commitments concerning the launch activity.

The operating expenditures for maintenance of the Sea Launch Commander assembly/command ship and Odyssey launch platform being a part of the Sea Launch Rocket-Space Complex will be also decreased.

The Sea Launch Complex will be maintained in the state providing its quick bringing into complete operational readiness.

The similar temporary measures at a period of this Complex activity reduction were implemented earlier as well. These measures are generally accepted practice for sea transport.

Operations intended to increase the complex operating efficiency including ones to improve some launch and processing systems of the Complex will be performed at a period of temporal termination of the launch activities. It is also proposed to transfer the Complex sea vessels to more efficient coastal power supply from the Home Port power supply system, complete the options analysis of the Integrated Launch Vehicle configuration modified.

The Sea Launch Company continues its activities on the launch services market expressing interest in all proposals on the missions which must be performed, beginning with the mid 2015.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Don't forget, there was over a two year gap in launchers from April 2009 to September 2011, with the previous failure being in January 2007. If Sea Launch survived that, they can survive this gap now, especially if SpaceX falters.

[jamesh9000]

Tweet from Peter de Selding quoting the Eutelsat CEO:

Looks like Russia, in major reorg of space activities, wants to maintain both Proton and Zenit/Sea Launch as viable #WSBW2014

So the russian govt. may be coming to the rescue there.

[owais.usmani]

Don't forget, there was over a two year gap in launchers from April 2009 to September 2011, with the previous failure being in January 2007. If Sea Launch survived that, they can survive this gap now, especially if SpaceX falters.

Not gonna happen.

[ChrisWilson68]

Don't forget, there was over a two year gap in launchers from April 2009 to September 2011, with the previous failure being in January 2007. If Sea Launch survived that, they can survive this gap now, especially if SpaceX falters.

At this point, even if SpaceX has a launch failure, Falcon 9 will still have a better track record both over the lifetime of the program and over recent periods than Sea Launch.

[newpylong]

SpaceX is not the only launch provider in the industry and the end all be all.

I hope Sea Launch gets it's feet back under them.

[Coastal Ron]

SpaceX is not the only launch provider in the industry and the end all be all.

No, they are not.  But it hasn't been SpaceX fans per se that have been affecting Sea Launch, it's their pricing and performance (i.e. factors Sea Launch controls).

Performance is something they have to work on every day.  Pricing though, legacy infrastructure that locks in high costs are harder to change, and it may turn out that the bet on their mobile solution turns out to be the wrong one.  And it will be their customers that determine that.

I hope Sea Launch gets it's feet back under them.

Competition is good to have, but we already have competition in the launch arena.  The question is not whether Sea Launch can compete today, but in the years to come.  And that too will likely be decided by their customers.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Tweet from Peter de Selding quoting the Eutelsat CEO:

Looks like Russia, in major reorg of space activities, wants to maintain both Proton and Zenit/Sea Launch as viable #WSBW2014

So the russian govt. may be coming to the rescue there.

Perhaps Zenit, but I wouldnt be surprised if the "sealaunch" assets disappear. There is already Landlaunch, and the cost of operating from Baikonour has to be much less of a financial burden even with the performance hit.

[Kabloona]

In other news:

"Titanic Captain Takes Proactive Steps to Address Hull Gap"

"While temporarily out of service, Titanic's crew will be using this time to improve certain operational efficiencies, upgrade its systems including evaluating shore-based power for the vessel while in port and finalize internal trade studies relative to available life boat configuration changes.'

[kq6ea]

HAH!

You're closer than you know.....

[docmordrid]

Rearranging deck chairs....

[kq6ea]

Considering they released about 60% of their staff, many of whom will never go back, it will be very interesting to see what they do when they try and resume launching.