Official RSC Energia Press Release Injection of PanAmSat-9 spacecraft from rocket space system Sea Launch
On July 29, 2000, at 2h. 42 min. Moscow
Time (July 28, 2000, at 22h. 42min. MGT) the unique mobile rocket-space
system Sea Launch launched the next Zenit-3SL rocket with Block
DM-SL as upper stage which delivered spacecraft PanAmSat-9 (PAS-9)
of 3,7 t from transfer orbit to the proper geosynchronous orbit
with inclination of 1,2° with perigee altitude of 1900 km,
apogee altitude of 35786 km.
The PanAmSat-9 spacecraft is designed to provide
direct TV broadcasting from geosynchronous orbit at operation
point with west latitude 52°.
The launch was performed onboard launch platform
Odyssey located close to the Christmas Island which is situated
at 154° of west latitude.
Five hours prior to lift-off automated countdown
procedure was initiated. The last group of launch personnel
and launch platform crew was delivered to the assembly command
ship by helicopter three hours before the lift-off.
The prelaunch processing and launch were all controlled
by radio-links from the launch control center on the ACS.
Time of SC and US DM-SL flight from lift-off to
the separation moment was about 70 min.
It has been already the fourth launch from the Odyssey
platform. The first one occurred on March 28, 1999.
The launches from the mobile sea launch site are
performed by international company Sea Launch. 128 Russian and
39 Ukrainian launch specialists and also American and Norwegian
specialists.
The Sea Launch company is shared by the Boeing aerospace
company (40%), Russian Rocket Space Corporation Energia (25%),
Norwegian company Kvaerner Invest Norge AS (20%) and Ukrainian
aerospace companies: PO Yuzhmashzavod, GKB Yuzhnoye (15%).
S.P. Korolev RSC Energia is the leading integrator
of the Rocket Segment which building involved 30 Russian companies
and also Ukrainian companies. The corporation has developed
and jointly with cooperation manufactured upper stage DM-SL,
supported development of automated control system for prelaunch
preparation and launch control, Upper Stage flight control system,
US loading systems with hyperholics and gasses and also measurement
system , testing and mechanical and support equipment for the
upper stage.
GKB Yuzhnoye and PO Yuzhmashzavod developed and
manufactured two-stages launch vehicle Zenit-2S with 60% of
parts made in Russia. Boeing Commercial Space Company was responsible
for Payload Unit development and Home Port (Long Beach, USA)
equipment where mobile launch site is docked and also for marketing
and interface with Customers.
Launch Platform and Assembly Command Ship are operated
by the Norwegian company Barber Moss Maritime.
The next launch on the Sea Launch project is scheduled
for September, 2000.
