Sea Launch's first commercial launch delayed by Boeing with no explanation

Published: 9/23/1999

Boeing led satellite launch venture, Sea Launch, has delayed the first commercial launch of a rocket from a floating platform. Yury Alexeyenko, spokesman for rocket design bureau, KB Yuzhnoye, told Reuters that: "The launch of our Zenit-3SL is set for October 10th, two weeks later than the initial date of September 28th". He added that the launch had been delayed at Boeing's request, but gave no details. Alexeyenko said that the Ukrainian-made Zenit-3SL booster would from the Pacific Ocean, carrying Hughes Electronics's communications satellite. "We hope the launch will be successful and it will dispel finally any doubts about Zenit's reliability," Alexeyenko said, after a land launched Zenit-2 rocket crashed in September 1998, destroying 12 Globalstar satellites worth $190m. Earlier this year, Ukrainian space officials claimed that 18 Zenit-3SL rocket boosters had already been ordered for the Sea Launch project, which has been developed over four years at a cost of about $500m. A successful test flight was made in March 1999, when a five-tonne dummy payload was launched. Boeing owns 40% of the consortium and partners include RSC Energia of Russia, KB Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine and Norwegian Kvaerner. According to Alexeyenko, the company is in talks with Boeing on launching its Zenit-3SLs not only from floating platforms, but also from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Article ID: 898