Land Launch

[Danderman]

I haven't seen this posted here, so:

http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/land-launch/index.html

"Using existing Zenit infrastructure at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Land Launch system is based on a modified version of the proven Sea Launch vehicle, the three-stage Zenit-3SL. Land Launch's Zenit-3SLB vehicle addresses the launch needs of commercial satellites weighing up to three-and-a-half metric tonnes. The two-stage Zenit-2SLB is also available for lifting payloads up to thirteen metric tonnes to inclined low Earth orbits."

There are also variants of this launcher using Fregat-SB as the upper stage in place of Block-DM. Apparently, the first such mission will be launch of the Electro weather satellite.

[Jim]

It has been discussed before

[sammie]

Its new to me that they are also planning a Fregat upper-stage. Does some-one have additional info on this one. Who produces the Fregat, because I always associated it with Starsem/Samara.

Does somebody know about the progress on the launch pad? Are they likely to reach their 2007 Q2 deadline for the first launch?

[Jim]

They are using the standard Zenit pads.  Fregat is a modified spacecraft propulsion system.  It was used on the Mars '96 spacecraft.  Don't have my AIAA guide here, so can't find the mfr.

[Danderman]

I believe that the version of Fregat to be used is the new Fregat-SB, which seems to have a drop tank.

[Space Lizard]

I hope they use the standard pad because no repair of the destroyed pad nor refurbishment work of the existing has been spotted yet.

[anik]

sammie - 29/9/2006  6:37 PM

Who produces the Fregat

NPO Lavochkin

http://www.laspace.ru/rus/fregat.php (in Russian)

sammie - 29/9/2006  6:37 PM

Does somebody know about the progress on the launch pad?

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1721 (in Russian)
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=1761 (in Russian)

At end of 2006 - beginning of 2007 there should be final testings of technical and launch complexes...

[Danderman]

Space Lizard - 29/9/2006  3:02 PM

I hope they use the standard pad because no repair of the destroyed pad nor refurbishment work of the existing has been spotted yet.

There is no "Standard" pad - there WERE 2 Zenit pads, one was destroyed on Oct 4 1990, the other still works. That is where Land Launch will operate from. There was talk of modifying the ruined pad for Angara, but I have not heard that lately.

[Jim]

I was correct, LandLaunch use the standard Zenit pad

[anik]

Danderman - 30/9/2006  9:56 PM

There was talk of modifying the ruined pad for Angara, but I have not heard that lately

For Kazakhstan's Angara (Bayterek) the former Proton launch pad (no. 200/40) will be modified...

[sammie]

Didn't the Mars-96 use a Block D as upper stage, that eventually doomed the whole mission? Or was the Fregat used for TLI and Lunar Orbit Injection burns?

The reason I asked who manufactured the Fregat upperstage is because it has been used only on the Soyuz before, and the Land Launch itself never mentioned an alternative upper stage possibility. So am I right to assume that the Zenit/Fregat combination will only used for RSA/Lavochkin payloads and not commercial payloads.

Quite impressive that they can use the same launch pad for 2 and 3 stage versions of the Zenit and different upperstages.

[Jim]

sammie - 1/10/2006  9:31 AM

Didn't the Mars-96 use a Block D as upper stage, that eventually doomed the whole mission? Or was the Fregat used for TLI and Lunar Orbit Injection burns?

The reason I asked who manufactured the Fregat upperstage is because it has been used only on the Soyuz before, and the Land Launch itself never mentioned an alternative upper stage possibility. So am I right to assume that the Zenit/Fregat combination will only used for RSA/Lavochkin payloads and not commercial payloads.

Quite impressive that they can use the same launch pad for 2 and 3 stage versions of the Zenit and different upperstages.

The Fregat wasn't a stage on Mars-96, it was the spacecraft.   It has been now converted into an upperstage for use by whomever.

[anik]

Google Maps images of Zenit launch pads on Baikonur...

[publiusr]

Nice images. I wish Atlas V had kept hte four nozzle RD-170 and simply did away with the need for solids. Oh well.

[vt_hokie]

Will this mean the end of commercial Proton launches?

[vt_hokie]

I see on the ILS website that they have 10 Proton flights lined up.  But I wonder, will Lockheed selling its stake hurt ILS' ability to compete with the Sea Launch/Land Launch consortium?

Edit:  This article pretty much addresses my question.  Nevermind!  

[Danderman]

A couple of questions about this system:

Will LL use the Fregat-SB stage for routine operations, or was that a one-off for Fobos-Grunt?

Also, has anyone looked at the possibility of flying LL due east from Baikonur? There are potential drop zones due east for the first stage, and the second stage may have drop zones in the Pacific, so overflight of Mongolia or China may not be an issue for this launcher, and the increased performance for launch to 46 degrees may be significant.