Sea Launch Project
High Spots
Intelsat Americas-8 Launch
of Assembly and Command ship (ACS) to the Home Part following the success ful launch of SC Spaceway-1.
Zenit-2S LV No SL 4 and Upper Stage DM-SL No 13L were intended for SC Intelsat Americas-8 launch, while Zenit-2S LV No
SL 19 was used for preparation as “Donor” LV.
CHRONOLOGY OF ACTIVITIES
May 3-10, 2005 |
Loading of Zenit-2S LV No SL 4 1st and 2nd stages into ACS and their mating Preparing Upper Stage DM-SL
No 13L for tests, test activations of thermostating system and US control system. Integrated tests of
US control system. Processing activities on the Rocket Segment integrated systems and processing equipment. |
May 9, 2005 |
Arrival of the Launch Plat form (LP) to the Home Port On the next day it is requested that maintenance
work on the LP-based processing equipment should start. |
May 11-15, 2005 |
Testing of the telemetry system, getting ready for pneumatic tests of Zenit-2S LV No SL 4. Test
activations of the onboard systems, pneumatic tests of Pneumo-Hydraulic system and US main engine. Processing
activities on the Rocket segment integrated systems and processing equipment. |
May 15-22, 2005 |
Zenit-2S LV No SL 4 pneumatic tests and electrical tests, its preparation for mating with US. Carrying electric tests to completion, check of onboard tanks,
leak checks of Equipment Bay, Pneumo-Hydraulic System for fuel supply and main engine, conduct of US protective
operations. Processing activities on the Rocket segment integrated systems and processing equipment. |
May 17, 2005 |
At the Home Port the scheduled Sea Launch Complex System Readiness Review (SRR) for Intelsat Americas-8
Mission implementation was conducted. Work Readiness Certificate for Intelsat Americas-8 Mission was signed. |
May 19, 2005 |
Mass characteristics of SC Intelsat Americas-8 put into storage in a fuelled condition at the Assemby
and Testing Facilities were formally confirmed. |
May 23, 2005 |
The first integrated rehearsal of prelaunch processing, involving the Rocket Segment, Sea Segment and Customer’s operational
personnel, was conducted. During the rehearsal several off-nominal operations were simulated. |
May 23-29, 2005 |
Final operations following testing of Zenit-2S LV No SL 4, getting LV ready for mating with US. Upper Stage DM-SL
No 13L tests involved the following: installation of onboard tanks, charging of Equipment Bay with air, filling of US with propellant components and compressed
gases. US/LV mating, ILV assembly. Processing activities on the Rocket Segment integrated systems and processing equipment. |
May 30 - June 5, 2005 |
Check of the completely assembled Zenit-3SL ILV No SL 4. Preparation for and conduct of ILV electric tests, including Critical Launch Readiness Checklist. ILV reloading from ACS to LP. “Dry” roll-out of ILV to the launch pad, conduct of Critical Launch Readiness Check list of ILV on LP. Intelsat Americas-8 Mission
Readiness Review. |
June 8, 2005 |
LP sailing out from the Home Port to the launch site. |
June 5-10, 2005 |
Preparation of the ACS – based Rocket Segment systems and equipment for the transit by sea. |
June 11, 2005 |
ACS sailing out from the Home Port to the launch site. |
June 13, 2005 |
Conducting the ACS – based integrated prelaunch processing rehearsal No 2 with all the Sea Launch Segments and subdivisions
involved (simulated off-nominal situations) |
June 16-17, 2005 |
Conducting the ACS – based real-time final integrated prelaunch processing rehearsal No 3 during its sea transit to
the launch site with support from MCC-M (Korolev), operations centers in Dnepropetrovsk, NASA division,
SC Customer and Launch Customer, Bruster Center and the TDRSS channels involved. |
June 19, 2005 |
In the final section of the Sea transit the Rocket segment personnel initiated preliminary activities to get LP
and ACS equipment ready for ILV launch (“Zero” launch day activities). LP and ACS arrival at the launch site. Launch Platform ballast trimming. |
June 20, 2005 |
First launch day activities: making the Rocket Segment systems ready for the activities on the launch site. Review
of Intelsat Americas-8 Mission Readiness for the launch site operations and ILV launch (LRR) was conducted. |
June 21, 2005 |
Second launch day activities: ILV preparation for roll-out to the launch pad, LP orientation to the launch position,
ACS transfer to a nominal position w.r.t. LP, ILV roll-out and erection anto the launch pad, PLU stand-alone checks,
ILV electrical checks, execution of the Critical Launch Readiness Checklist. |
June 22-23, 2005 |
Third launch day activities: Performance of prelaunch processing final operations, including launch personnel delivery
by a helicopter to LP, Flight Readiness Checklist execution, ILV fuelling and final evacuation of the Rocket and
Sea Segment personnel from LP by the helicopter. |
June 23, 2005 |
At 18 hours 02 minutes 59, 465 seconds Moscow Time (14 hours 02 minutes 59, 465 seconds Greenwich Mean Time) the
seventeenth launch from the Odyssey launch platform under the Sea Launch Program was performed. Spacecraft
Intelsat Americas-8 was injected into its target geostationary orbit with a high accuracy.Post-flight operations at LP and ACS. |
June 24, 2005 |
ACS and LP start their sea transit from the launch site back to the Home Part. |
LAUNCH RESULTS
Spacecraft Intelsat Americas-8 has been put into its design
geostationary orbit.
Perigee altitude, km |
Apogee altitude, km |
Inclination, deg. |
202 |
35636 |
0 |
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