The objective of the launch was to deliver a 4.09 ton spacecraft Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 to the target geotransfer orbit with the altitude of 2380 km at perigee and 35786 km at apogee and inclination of 0 degrees.

The SC insertion into that orbit from an intermediate orbit established by the two-stage launch vehicle Zenit-2S was performed by the upper stage Block DM-SL using a flight profile with two burns of the main engine.

The first burn, fired about 10 seconds after the orbital module consisting of the upper stage and SC separated from the LV, boosted the orbital module into a reference near-circular Earth orbit with the following targeted parameters: perigee altitude of 180 km, apogee altitude of 8353 km, inclination 0 degrees.

The second burn, fired 30 minutes after the completion of the first one, assured the delivery of the SC to the target geotransfer orbit. The flight time of the upper stage Block DM-SL and SC from the lift-off till their separation was about 1 hour.

The SC transfer from the target orbit to its GEO slot at 127 deg.W is performed autonomously. The SC is owned by PanAmSat Corporation and JSAT Corporation. It is intended for providing digital data transmission services, including video and Internet for North and Central America, Alaska and Hawaii.

This is the third satellite owned by PanAmSat Corporation launched by the sea-going space launcher. The first satellite (PAS-9) was put into orbit in June, 2000, the second (Galaxy IIIC) was put n orbit in June, 2002.

Spacecraft launches from the sea-going space launching facility are carried out by an international stock company, the stock in which is held by Boeing of US, S.P.Korolev RSC Energia of Russia, Kvaerner Invest Norge AS of Norway and aerospace companies from Ukraine - Yuzhmashzavod Production Association and M.K.Yangel State Design Bureau Yuzhnoye.

S. P.Korolev RSC Energia participates in the project as the prime contractor for the rocket segment as a whole. The Corporation is responsible for outfitting and integrating the segment into the Sea Launch system, providing, together with its subcontractors, which include more than 30 Russian companies and companies of Ukraine, development, manufacturing, and operation of the upper stage Block DM-SL as the third stage of the Zenit-3SL ILV, as well as a suite of automated systems for controlling pre-launch processing and launch, systems for the upper stage flight control, the measuring system, systems for loading high-boiling propellant components and gases, the upper stage test and handling equipment.

Pre-launch preparations and launch were controlled from the control center on-board the assembly and command ship Sea Launch Commander. Automatic pre-launch sequence started 5 hours before the lift-off. The last team of specialists supporting the launch and the crew of the launch platform were evacuated by a helicopter to the assembly and command ship 3 hours before the launch.

Operations to prepare ILV for launch and launching it from the Odyssey launch platform at the launch site were conducted under direction of the Sea Launch company's Mission Director D.Dubs and the Rocket Segment Operations Manager, RSC Energia Deputy Designer General V.G.Aliev.

Analysis of the flight of the upper stage with SC is done by RSC Energia specialists working in the framework of a specially established Lead Operations Control Team posted at the Mission Control Center (MCC-M), Korolev, Moscow region. The Flight Director is cosmonaut-pilot V.A.Soloviev.

Present in the MCC-M mission control room during preparations for launch and launch were the President of the S.P.Korolev RSC Energia, Designer General, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yu.P.Semenov, managers and specialists from the Corporation and Russian subcontractors.

That was the eleventh launch under the Sea Launch program. The first launch took place on March 27, 1999. The next launch is scheduled for end of November, 2003.

Related Links
RSC Energia
SeaLaunch
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only