Sea Launch Project

NPO Energia together with a number of Russian enterprises has conducted preliminary studies on development of a Sea-Based Rocket and Space Complex on the basis of large-capacity means of domestic marine for modern launchers Zenit, Energia-М, Energia.

NPO Energia specialists at a meeting in the Boeing premises have presented a Sea-Based Rocket and Space Complex project (SB RSC).

In Turku (Finland) the future partners (Boeing, NPO Energia, Кvaerner) have discussed proposals on Launch Platform and signed a frame agreement on SB RSC development and necessity for foundation of an international company.

RSC Energia has developed technical proposals on Sea-Based Rocket And Space Complex (SB RSC) with participation of conventional Russian cooperative agencies. Involved in activities is NPO Yuzhnoye (Ukraine).

Presidents of four companies have signed the Sea Launch Joint Venture Foundation Agreement (for Boeing, Seattle, USA - James Noblitt; for RSC Energia, Korolev, Russia - Juri Semenov; for Кvaerner, Oslo, Norway - Ditrich Schnitler; for NPO Yuzhnoye, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine - Yuri Alekseyev). The subsequent meeting of partners began to determine the stragedy of Sea Launch program development.

RSC Energia together with subcontractors has developed a conceptual project on Sea Launch RSC.

RSC Energia President Yu. Semenov for the purposes of enhancement of work efficiency has taken a decision to establish a Directorate and Science and Technology Center 10 under the Sea Launch program. An operational-technical management for activities of RSC Energia cooperative agencies is established.

RSC Energia has developed proposals on structure, responsibility, and sequence of concurring joint (international) documents.

At Boeing Commercial Space Company/RSC Energia/ Кvaerner/ NPO Yuzhnoye and KBTM meeting in Oslo, Norway, on RSC Energia initiative a decision is taken to establish an international structure of working groups for project management on the working level. Leads of working groups from RSC Energia are identified.

Integrated project documentation is developed:

• Sea Launch RSC breakdown chart (identification of cooperating subcontractors);
• procedure for performing operations, structure and composition of personnel;
• integrated documents (master procedure, prelaunch processing program, integrated test program).

Project and design documentation on Rocket Segment in support of building of ships is developed:

• documentation for Rocket Segment systems and equipment;
• interface documentation and specifications of Rocket Segment equipment for shipyards and project agencies.

Documentation for payload integration with ILV is developed.

Construction work on Assembly-Command Ship (Kvaerner-Govan shipyard, Glasgo, Great Britain) and Launch Platform (Kvaerner-Rosenberg, Stavanger, Norway) is launched.

Manufacturing work on Rocket Segment systems and equipment (Russian enterprises) is launched.

Initial data and requirements on rocket equipment installation on ships are developed.

Cooperation of Russian enterprises on Rocket Segment equipment installation on ships is identified:

• TsKB МТ Rubin - development of installation documentation;
• Kvaerner-Vyborg shipyard - additional outfitting of the Launch Platform;
• АО "Kanonersky sudoremontny zavod" (joint-stock venture Kanonersky shipyard) - additional outfitting of the Launch Platform.

Manufacturing and deliveries of Rocket Segment equipment are implemented.

The Board of Chief Designers is held in Korolev with review of problematic issues connected with Sea Launch RSC development.

International Bank for reconstruction and development guarantees are received for commercial risks during Sea Launch program implementation. Project funding scheme definition is completed.

The Launch Platform has come to Kvaerner-Vyborg shipyard for outfitting with Rocket Segment systems and equipment and completion of work on marine equipment.

First review on project certification (Moscow) with participation of representatives from customers.

RF Government decree "On Russian Federation administration of guarantees for the international project on Sea Launch Sea-Based Rocket and Space Complex development" is signed.

In Dnepropetrovsk is held the Board of Chief Designers on status assessment w.r.t. integrated documentation issue in support of Sea Launch RSC development.

The Assembly-Command Ship has come to Kanonersky shipyard.

Outfitting of the Assembly-Command Ship at Kanonersky shipyard with Rocket Segment systems and equipment and completion of work on marine equipment.

Sea Launch Company has performed at PO Yuzhmashzavod and RSC Energia the technical acceptance of the manufactured first flight unit of Zenit-2S Launch Vehicle and Block DМ-SL Upper Stage.

Work at Saint-Petersburg Port aboard the Assembly-Command Ship: debugging of handling operations using a Zenit-2S Launch Vehicle mockup, loading of two units of Zenit-2S Launch Vehicle and Block DM-SL Upper Stage.

The basic work on additional outfitting of the Launch Platform with Rocket segment systems and equipment is complete.