vendredi 1 février 2013

Sea Launch - Zenit 3SL with Intelsat 27 Launch Failure











Sea Launch AG logo.

Feb. 01, 2013

Sea Launch AG announced today that approximately 40 seconds after liftoff of the launch of the Intelsat 27 spacecraft, all telemetry was lost indicating a loss of mission. The spacecraft, built by Boeing Satellite Systems was launched on a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle from the equator on the ocean-based Odyssey launch platform, positioned at 154 degrees West longitude.

Zenit-3SL rocket at the launch-pad

A commercial Zenit 3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch fell into the equatorial Pacific Ocean moments after lifting off from a mobile platform Friday, destroying the Ukrainian booster and an Intelsat communications satellite.

Zenit 3SL with Intelsat 27 Launch Failure 06:56 UTC 01.02.13

The Zenit 3SL rocket, loaded with more than 900,000 pounds of flammable propellant, blasted off at 0656 GMT (1:56 a.m. EST) from Sea Launch's Odyssey launch platform stationed in the Pacific Ocean about 1,400 miles south of Hawaii.

But something almost immediately went wrong with the launch, and the three-stage rocket appeared to fly off course before its RD-171 main engine switched off about 25 seconds after liftoff, apparently as a safety measure.

Intelsat 27 spacecraft (destroyed today during the failed launch)

The Intelsat 27 spacecraft aboard the Zenit rocket was insured for about $400 million, according to a company official.

Sea Launch will establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to determine the root cause of the incident and will provide additional information, as it becomes available, on the Sea Launch website at: http://www.sea-launch.com.

Images, Video. Text, Credits: Sea Launch AG / Boeing / Intelsat / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch