25-01-2011 14:19 Sea Launch program resumes in 2011This was disclosed by Oleksandr Dehtiarev, chief designer and general director of state enterprise Design Bureau Yuzhnoye.The resumption of the program is evidenced by the decisions passed by the shareholders of the company Sea Launch on a consistent starting of five spacecrafts. According to him, in the current year, under the program Sea Launch it is planned to perform two launches with the use of the Zenit-3SL rocket carrier, the first of which is scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2011.
January 25, 2011Sea Launch... Moving On Up... [SatNews] Energia Logistics Ltd. (“ELUS”) has named Kirk Pysher as Chief Operating Officer, effective November 6, 2010. Energia Logistics Ltd. is a newly formed organization that is responsible for all aspects of satellite integration and launch operations for Sea Launch Zenit-3SL missions. In this role, Pysher will lead a highly experienced operations and engineering team in support of ELUS’ charter to manage hardware production, provide engineering services and deliver launch services to Sea Launch AG and its customers in the satellite operator community. Pysher comes to Energia Logistics Ltd. with more than 25 years of space experience. Prior to his current position, Pysher worked for the Boeing Company where his most recent assignment was Vice President and Chief Systems Engineer of the Sea Launch Company, L.L.C. Under his leadership, Pysher addressed and successfully managed the myriad of technical issues that arise during the normal course of a launch service campaign. Prior to his Sea Launch assignment, Pysher played an integral role at The Boeing Company in support of the design, development and operation of the Delta family of launch vehicles.
Boeing said S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corp. Energia’s share of the outstanding obligations is $223 million. PO Yuzhnoye Mashinostroitelny Zavod of Ukraine owes $89 million, and its partner, KB Yuzhnoye, owes $44 million, according to Boeing.Energia Overseas Corp., an affiliate of RSC Energia — Russia’s biggest space hardware company — is leading Sea Launch out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy with promises of enough cash to return the commercial launch venture to flight as soon as later this year. Sea Launch officials have said that the Chapter 11 process has unburdened the company of a crippling debt load — mainly owed to Boeing.
SES + Sea Launch... From Sea To Space (Launch)Sea Launch homepage[SatNews] There's a possibility this Company may well start to launch some of their satellites from an ocean-based facility.SES S.A., a leading worldwide satellite operator (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), and Sea Launch have announced that they have entered into a framework understanding regarding possible cooperation on the future launch of SES satellites on Sea Launch launch vehicles. Romain Bausch, CEO of SES, noted, “We have always considered the launch vehicle system provided by Sea Launch to be an important participant in the commercial arena of heavy-lift launch providers. Given our desire for a vibrant and competitive launch service market, we are pleased to see a new Sea Launch emerging and re-engaging.”Under the framework understanding announced today, Sea Launch has agreed to provide SES with detailed technical information regarding its launch vehicle system on a regular basis. In turn, SES has agreed – based on the success of upcoming launch missions already on the Sea Launch manifest – to consider Sea Launch as an SES recognized provider for future launch missions. Kjell Karlsen, President of Sea Launch, stated, “We are excited to re-establish our relationship with SES. The understanding we have reached clearly reflects the confidence that SES has in the Sea Launch system and our ability to provide cost-effective, reliable launch services to the world’s most demanding customers.”SES notes that Sea Launch has put in place an exceptional business team and a new credible structure backed by its affiliate, Energia Logistics Ltd, both key steps to moving its business forward. Bausch concluded, “We congratulate Sea Launch on their return to the launch service business, and we look forward to successful launches of SES satellites in the future.”
Launch providers, of course, fear that the additional supply, coupled with forecasts for diminished demand, could lead to a “rationalization” as McKenna fears. One potential sign is the future of Land Launch, a venture that uses a variant of Sea Launch’s Zenit-3SL launched from Baikonur, serving smaller GEO satellites in competition with Soyuz and, now, Falcon 9. Sea Launch’s Karlsen said that there are no Land Launch missions on the books after a mission for Intelsat planned for later this year. “After that, we have to sort out what to do with Land Launch,” he said. “At this point in time, I’m not certain that Land Launch is competitive in the marketplace for those kinds of satellites.”The question facing the industry is whether, in a few years, other launch systems will be in the same situation as Land Launch, if too many vehicles chase too few launches in this market.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1803/1QuoteLaunch providers, of course, fear that the additional supply, coupled with forecasts for diminished demand, could lead to a “rationalization” as McKenna fears. One potential sign is the future of Land Launch, a venture that uses a variant of Sea Launch’s Zenit-3SL launched from Baikonur, serving smaller GEO satellites in competition with Soyuz and, now, Falcon 9. Sea Launch’s Karlsen said that there are no Land Launch missions on the books after a mission for Intelsat planned for later this year. “After that, we have to sort out what to do with Land Launch,” he said. “At this point in time, I’m not certain that Land Launch is competitive in the marketplace for those kinds of satellites.”The question facing the industry is whether, in a few years, other launch systems will be in the same situation as Land Launch, if too many vehicles chase too few launches in this market.
Land Launch problem (only Russian):http://www.marker.ru/news/4113
Its SeaLaunch vs LandLaunch to obtain engines from Energomash. Note that the lawsuit only concerns RD-171M, and not RD-120. Anyone know why?
I have suspected that the RD-161 that is normally the brand name of the Korean engine is just that, a brand name for the export version of the RD-191.
13-04-2011 13:57 Ukraine to send Zenit-3SL to US for Sea Launch restartIn May 2011 Ukraine will send to the United States the Zenit-3SL launch vehicle to resume the Sea Launch Project, as Yuriy Alekseyev, the director of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) told reporters.The last time the launch vehicle took off from an offshore platform in April 2009. In 2011, the launches would be resumed in the third quarter. By the 2011 end it is planned to perform two launches. Mr Alekseyev said that in general in 2011 seven starts of launch vehicles are expected, which were produced in cooperation with Ukraine, after three in 2010. The NSAU chief reported that the launch of the Ukrainian communications satellite Lybid as part of the project with the Canadian firm MDA is postponed from April 2012 to the second half of 2012.
