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MISSION SUCCESS FOR DIRECTV 1-R AND DEMOSAT
HIGHLIGHT AN OUTSTANDING YEAR FOR SEA LAUNCH
Encapsulated DIRECTV 1-R payload during transfer from payload processing
facility (top). |
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| The
First Two Launches
Sea Launch's highly successful DIRECTV 1-R mission
on October 9, and equally impressive Demosat launch on March 27, 1999
were just two tremendous milestones during a historic year of accomplishments
for the venture. |
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| The DIRECTV payload was a 7,600-pound Hughes-built
direct broadcast satellite. Executing a precisely controlled flight profile,
DIRECT 1 -R made space history by becoming the first commercial satellite
to be launched from a floating platform at sea. The launch window opened at 8:28 p.m. PDT on October 9 - a day earlier than scheduled due to exceptional transit time and smooth launch readiness operations - and liftoff occurred 3.9 seconds after engine ignition. Spacecraft separation occurred approximately 62 minutes later. Hughes support personnel reported satellite signal acquisition before spacecraft separation and noted the spacecraft remains in a healthy state. Sea Launch provided outstanding injection accuracy for the DIRECTV 1-R mission, superceding the March 27 mission by being within 1 sigma of the target compared to 1.27 sigma for Demosat. First stage separation for the DIRECTV mission occurred at 148.9 seconds. Fairing separation occurred at 194.6 seconds and third-stage ignition occurred at 555 seconds, concluding the transition to the initial injection orbit. All spacecraft environments met the mission success criteria. |
| Thuraya
Confirms Sea Launch As its Launch Service Provider Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company recently confirmed the company's selection of Sea Launch as the preferred launch system for the deployment of the Thuraya satellite. "We are confident that deployment of our satellite using Sea Launch presents the best scenario for Thuraya," said Thuraya's Chief Executive, Mr. Yousuf Al Sayed. Scheduled for a mid-2000 launch and a September 2000 start date, the Thuraya satellite will provide voice, fax, data, messaging and GPS within handheld and vehicular telephone models that will integrate both satellite and cellular telecommunications. The footprint for the single high-powered satellite will cover 99 countries spanning Europe, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. |
| Second
Users' Conference an Overwhelming Success | |
 Sea Launch President Allen Ashby addresses the Users' Conference |
Our customers want launch
service providers to assure them a safe, cost-effective and reliable ride
to orbit. During the recent Sea Launch/ Boeing Delta Users' conference,
current and prospective customers were given a first-hand look at the
benefits of using the innovative Sea Launch system to accomplish just
that. Held this year in Pasadena Calif., the conference highlighted the operational and customer support aspects for successfully handling a customer's satellite, beginning with spacecraft delivery and integration at Home Port through the launch operations support at the equator. |
| "We wanted to clearly demonstrate Sea
Launch's depth and breadth of program expertise to ensure customers and
insurers that we have the people and processes in place to continue our
outstanding mission success record," said Amy Buhrig, Sea Launch vice
president of marketing and sales. "Having two highly successful missions
behind us makes that message much more credible." The Sea Launch team presented the full spectrum of launch services ranging from mission assurance, integration and launch operations, through plans for growing the overall system performance capability. A tour of the two launch support vessels provided a close-up view of the marine element that makes the Sea Launch concept truly unique. The conference drew significant industry interest and participation and the flow of highly encouraging feedback is already contributing to planning for the first users' conference of the new millennium. 
Users' Conference participants pose for a group shot. |
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| Bo
Bejmuk Receives Lloyd V. Birkner Award Bo Bejmuk, vice president and general manager of the U.S. Sea Launch Home Port facility in Long Beach has been named the 1999 recipient of the Lloyd V. Berkner Award. The award is given annually by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) for outstanding contributions to the commercial use of space technology. Bejmuk recently accepted the award during the society's annual conference held this year in Pasadena, California. |
 Astronaut Neil Armstrong (left) and Bo Bejmuk |
| "Receiving this award is a tremendous honor to be shared by every member of the Sea Launch team around the world," Bejmuk said. "Their teamwork and commitment to excellence has made this a truly remarkable year for international cooperation, the commercial space industry and for all of us at Sea Launch. We are very grateful." | |
| Sea Launch Selected for "Best of What's New" for 1999 The Sea Launch venture recently was selected by Popular Science Magazine as one of eight "Best of What's New" award winners for 1999 in the space and aviation category. The awards are voted on by the publications' science writers and recognize the top 100 achievements in the field of science and technology. The March 27 Demosat launch was recognized for contributions to a new era in commercial space history. |
| Captain's
Corner With two incredibly successful launches under their belt, the captains of the Sea Launch vessels, Odyssey and Sea Launch Commander, have two of the more unique jobs in commercial space today. Recently Sea Launch spoke with Odyssey Captain Peter Cobain, who was on the Odyssey during the DIRECTV 1-R mission. This was your second mission for Sea Launch. What were your thoughts as the launch countdown neared zero? |
 Captain Peter Cobain |
| "During the demonstration launch in March,
I acted as the Marine Operations Coordinator in the Launch Control Center
(LCC). As the countdown neared zero, I felt a tremendous pride in the
marine segment team as all of the hard work and effort for the launch
was nearing completion. All we could do was watch and let the aerospace
specialists complete the task of putting the DIRECTV 1-R into orbit."
Are there unique challenges associated with steadying the platform for a rocket launch as opposed to its original purpose as an oil-drilling platform? "Yes, the main unique challenge is ensuring that the loads on the integrated launch vehicle are kept within the launch criteria. This is achieved with the help of a trim and heel system, which automatically keeps the platform in a level plane." What was the post-launch state of the Odyssey and the area surrounding the launch pad following the last mission? "The platform once again was in excellent condition after the launch. A quick coat of paint and the launch area looked as good as new. We did suffer some structural damage to one of the hangar doors, which was derailed and slightly distorted, but the repair is nearly complete and we do not expect it to reoccur. The Odyssey made incredible transit time to the launch site last mission. Do you take any special pre-cautions to protect the launch vehicle during transit? "We have established transit criteria so that the loads on the launch vehicle and spacecraft are kept within the acceptable limits, and the platforrn motions are monitored by computer. We also have the ability to change the platform speed and/or direction to change the effect of the environment on the Odyssey, but did not need to do this during the last transit." |
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| About the Venture The Operational Advantages In addition to enhanced performance capabilities, Sea Launch offers customers operational and cost advantages, while our state-of-the-art satellite processing facility enhances spacecraft integration operations. Our equatorial launch site located at 154 degrees West provides customers the most direct route to geostationary orbit, offering maximum lift capacity for increased payload mass or extended spacecraft life. Finally, our marine operations reduce launch infrastructure, minimizing operational cost. Our continued focus remains on customer satisfaction, mission assurance, and evolutionary growth with emphasis on high performance, streamlined integration and efficient operations. The Partnership Partners in the Sea Launch global venture include Boeing Commercial Space Company, Kent, Wash., (provides spacecraft integration and the payload fairings); Kvaerner Maritime a.s., of Oslo, Norway (the vessel builder); RSC Energia of Moscow, Russia (provides the Block-DM upper stage and its integration with the launch vehicle); and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine (provides the first two stages of the launch vehicle and launch support operations). |
| Trafton Succeeds Ashby as Sea Launch President Will Trafton has been unanimously approved by the Sea Launch board of directors to succeed Allen Ashby as Sea Launch president and general manager. Trafton joined the venture in October 1999 and will assume his new responsibilities immediately. "Allen has made tremendous contributions toward the success of the Sea Launch venture and we all are extremely grateful for his efforts and a job well done," said Trafton. Trafton brings a strong legacy of space experience to his new position. Most recently he served as president of International Launch Services (ILS) and prior to that, held a senior management position with NASA as associate administrator for the Office of Space Flight. |
| Sea Launch
Trade Show Schedule For First Quarter 2000 - Pacific Telecommunications (PTC), Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, Honolulu, Hawaii - Satellite 2000, Feb. 2-4, Washington, DC Contact Information: |
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