View source for Sea Launch

{{Short description|Satellite launch company, 1999 to 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox company 
| name   = Sea Launch S.A.
| logo           = 
| logo_size      = 125px
| type           = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry       = [[Aerospace engineering|Aerospace]] 
| foundation     = {{start date and age|1995}}
| location       = [[Nyon]], Switzerland
| key_people     = 
| products       = 
| num_employees  = 200{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
| parent         = [[S7 AirSpace Corporation]]
| homepage       = [http://s7space.ru/en/ s7space.ru]
}}
[[File:Sea Launch 01.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A launch of [[Zenit-3SL]] rocket from the Sea Launch platform ''[[Ocean Odyssey]]'']]
'''Sea Launch''' was a multinational—[[Norway]], [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], [[United States]]—[[spacecraft]] [[space launch|launch]] company founded in 1995 that provided [[orbital spaceflight|orbital]] [[launch service provider|launch services]] from 1999 to 2014.  The company used a mobile maritime [[launch pad|launch platform]] for [[equator]]ial launches of commercial [[payload]]s on specialized [[Zenit-3SL]] rockets from a former mobile/floating oil drilling rig renamed ''[[Odyssey (launch platform)|Odyssey]]''.

By 2014, it had assembled and launched thirty-two rockets, with an additional three failures and one partial failure. All commercial payloads were [[communications satellite]]s intended for [[geostationary transfer orbit]] with such customers as [[EchoStar Communications Corporation|EchoStar]], [[DirecTV]], [[XM Satellite Radio]], [[PanAmSat]], and [[Thuraya]].

The approach Sea Launch LLC used was to assemble the launcher on a purpose-built ship ''[[Sea Launch Commander]]'' in Nimitz Rd., [[Long Beach, California]], USA. The assembled spacecraft was then positioned on top of the self-propelled ''Odyssey'' floating launch platform and moved to the equatorial [[Pacific Ocean]] for launch, with the ''Sea Launch Commander'' serving as tracking, command & telemetry (TCT) center. The movable system means the rocket can travel to the equator for launch, which increases payload capacity.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15034079 |title=Sea Launch rocket company returns to service |work=BBC News |date=September 25, 2011}}</ref>

Sea Launch mothballed its ships and put operations on long-term hiatus in 2014, following the [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. By 2015, discussions on disposition of company assets were underway, and the Sea Launch partners were in a court-administered dispute about unpaid expenses that Boeing claims it incurred.

In September 2016, S7 Group, owner of [[S7 Airlines]], purchased the assets of Sea Launch.<ref name="s7group">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-27/russian-airline-owner-moves-to-challenge-musk-bezos-in-space |title=Russian Airline Owner to Challenge Musk, Bezos in Space |agency=[[Bloomberg News]] |last1=Fedorinova |first1=Yuliya |last2=Lemeshko |first2=Andrey |date=27 September 2016 |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref> Launch services were to potentially be provided by S7 Sea Launch, a US subsidiary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s7space.ru/en/launch-sea/ |title=Sea Launch Complex description |publisher=[[S7 Space]] |access-date=13 November 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113170121/http://s7space.ru/en/launch-sea/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, after moving the two former Sea Launch ships from California to [[Vladivostok]], the S7 Group chairman stated that the program was indefinitely suspended. As of 2020, a replacement for the [[Zenit (rocket family)|Zenit]] launch vehicle, with its [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] first stage, was expected to be years away.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spacenews.com/sea-launch-frozen-after-ships-moved-to-russia/ |title=Sea Launch "frozen" after ships moved to Russia |publisher=[[Space News]] |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |date=24 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref>

==History==
Sea Launch was established in 1995 as a consortium of four companies from [[Norway]], [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]] and the [[United States]], managed by [[Boeing]] with participation from the other shareholders.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.universetoday.com/8963/sea-launch-on-land/ |title=Sea Launch... On Land? |work=Universe Today |first=Fraser |last=Cain |date=October 21, 2003 |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name="orbireport">{{cite news |publisher=Orbireport.com |title=Zenit 3SL |date=1997–2000 |url=http://www.orbireport.com/Launchers/Zenit_3SL/Architecture.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118101603/http://www.orbireport.com/Launchers/Zenit_3SL/Architecture.html |archive-date=January 18, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The first rocket was launched in March 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/301653.stm |title=Sea Launch primed to make history |work=BBC News |date=March 24, 1999 |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>

On March 17, 2006, it was announced that [[Jim Maser]], the President and General Manager of Sea Launch, would leave the company to join [[SpaceX]] as President and Chief Operating Officer.<ref name="prnews20060317">{{cite news |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jim-maser-to-join-spacex-as-president-and-chief-operating-officer-55389142.html |title=Jim Maser to Join SpaceX as President and Chief Operating Officer |agency=PRNewswire |date=March 17, 2006}}</ref>

In June 2009, the provider of the Sea Launch service, Sea Launch Co. LLC, filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrea |last=James |date=June 24, 2009 |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/archives/172105.asp |title=Boeing's satellite launch subsidiary files for Chapter 11 |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref name="reuters20090622">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sealaunch-idUSBNG17593820090623 |title=Sea Launch files for Chapter 11 protection |work=Reuters |first1=Ajay |last1=Kamalakaran |first2=Saeed |last2=Azhar |date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> Sea Launch asserted that it would "continue to maintain all normal business operations after the filing for reorganization."<ref name="boeing20090622">{{cite press release |url=http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/news_releases/2009/nr_090622.html |title=Sea Launch Files Chapter 11 to Address Financial Challenges |publisher=Boeing |first=Paula |last=Korn |date=June 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626044343/http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/news_releases/2009/nr_090622.html |archive-date=June 26, 2009}}</ref> On August 6, 2010, Energia, which already owned 25% of Sea Launch, announced it planned to acquire a controlling interest of 85% in the company.  As a result, the company planned to begin land-based launches from the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in early 2011, while sea-based launches to be resumed in September 2011.<ref name="flight20100806">{{cite news |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russian-money-to-drive-sea-launch-relaunch-345841/ |title=Russian money to drive Sea Launch relaunch |work=Flight International via Flightglobal.com |first=Niall |last=O'Keeffe |date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref>{{update after|2014|7|24}}

Sea Launch emerged from bankruptcy effective October 27, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sea-launch.com/news_releases/2010/nr_101027.html |title=Sea Launch Company Emerges From Chapter 11 |publisher=Sea Launch |date=October 27, 2010}}</ref> [[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|Energia]] Overseas Limited, a Russian corporation, is majority owner of the reorganized entity, with [[Boeing]] and other American companies retaining minority shares.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 2013, Boeing sued RSC Energia, PO Yuzhnoye and KB [[Yuzhnoye Design Office|Yuzhnoye]]. According to Boeing the companies refused to pay more than $350 million following the joint venture's bankruptcy filing in 2009.<ref name="reuters20130204">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/boeing-sealaunch-idUSL1N0B31GP20130204 |title=Boeing sues Sea Launch partners for $350 million |work=Reuters |first=Nate |last=Raymond |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

In mid-2014, following the [[2014 Russian military invasion in Ukraine]] and the subsequent [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|unrest in the eastern part of the country]], there were a number of Russian media reports that indicated Sea Launch may be planning to inactivate the ''[[Odyssey (launch platform)|Odyssey]]'' launch platform.  The company formally denied those reports in June 2014, indicating it is continuing to buy Zenit rockets from [[Yuzhmash|Ukraine]], and is still promoting its launch services to the international market, even in August 2014.<ref name=mt20140624>{{cite news |last1=Bodner |first1=Matthew |title=Sea Launch Denies Plans to Shelve Launch Platform |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/sea-launch-denies-plans-to-shelve-launch-platform/502579.html |access-date=July 24, 2014 |newspaper=Moscow Times |date=June 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Aug2014pressRelease/> However, in August 2014, Sea Launch conducted a [[Reduction in force|reduction of their staff]] and [[Ship decommissioning|removed from operating status]] both the ''Commander'' and ''Odyssey'' vessels in order to reduce [[operating cost]]s during a period where they have no launches scheduled until late 2015.<ref name=Aug2014pressRelease>[http://www.sea-launch.com/news/11415 Sea Launch Takes Proactive Steps to Address Manifest Gap], August 22, 2014, News & Events – Press Releases – 2014, accessed August 27, 2014.</ref>

In July 2015, industry experts stated that the Chinese government was considering the purchase of the Sea Launch command ship and launch platform assets, but this was not confirmed by either company or Chinese government officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/china-eyes-purchase-of-sea-launch-assets/ |title=China Eyes Purchase of Sea Launch Assets |work=Space News |first=Peter B. |last=de Selding |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2015, Boeing won a court judgement against the Russian and Ukrainian partners within Sea Launch.  The decision set up a court trial planned for November 2015 where Boeing would argue that it was not properly reimbursed for {{USD|356 million}} of expenses incurred while operating the Sea Launch launch system.<ref>[http://spacenews.com/boeing-wins-u-s-court-judgment-against-russian-ukrainian-sea-launch-partners/ Boeing Wins U.S. Court Judgment Against Russian, Ukrainian Sea Launch Partners], SpaceNews, September 30, 2015, retrieved November 27, 2015.</ref> This litigation was decided in favor of Boeing on May 12, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/sealaunch.html#judgment |title=Sea Launch venture |work=RussianSpaceWeb |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |access-date=May 21, 2016}}</ref>

As of December 2015, [[Roscosmos]] and [[Energia (corporation)|Energia]] were attempting to find a buyer for the Sea Launch assets, due to the high cost of infrastructure maintenance of approximately {{USD|30 million}} per year.<ref>[http://www.satnews.com/story.php?number=25117559 Sea Launch On The Sales Block?], Satnews, December 3, 2015, accessed December 8, 2015.</ref>

In September 2016, S7 Group, owner of [[S7 Airlines]] announced they were purchasing Sea Launch.<ref name="s7group"/>  The launch and assembly ship ''Sea Launch Commander'' arrived in Russia on March 17, 2020, and was moored at the Slavyanka Shipyard after customs procedures. The launch platform ''Odyssey'' arrived at the shipyard on March 30.<ref name="tass.com">{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/science/1193137|title = Sea Launch to be restored at cost of about $470 MLN}}</ref>

In August 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told the media on the sidelines of the Army-2020 forum that the floating spaceport Sea Launch, currently based at Russia’s Slavyanka port in the Primorye Territory, will be restored. The news release indicated it would require about 35 billion rubles (roughly $470 million) to restore the platform. Funding was not confirmed at the time of the release.

Borisov indicated that before the floating spaceport left its port Long Beach, California, the United States in accordance with its laws removed all equipment from the command ship and the floating platform. "It’s mostly equipment responsible for positioning, based on GPS technologies. We will be able to replace it with GLONASS solutions. As for the launch system itself, in other words, the equipment needed for bringing the rocket to and placing it at the launch pad and automatically fueling the tanks, all this is done through Russian technologies," Borisov said.<ref name="tass.com"/>

In June 2020, the CEO of Russia’s space corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, said in his column in Forbes magazine that Russian specialists would have to exert considerable efforts to restore the floating spaceport Sea Launch to operation. He said that before its handover to the company S7 all space launch control equipment was dismantled.<ref name="tass.com"/>

==Ownership and business==
Sea Launch was founded by four companies from four countries, which shared the original ownership of offshore [[Cayman Islands]]-registered Sea Launch. Ship "Sea Launch" registered Monrovia<ref name="energiapartner">{{cite news |url=http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/sea-launch/partner.html |title=The Sea Launch Partnership |publisher=Energia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010214235743/http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/sea-launch/partner.html |archive-date=February 14, 2001 |url-status=live}}</ref> after reorganising from [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy in 2010, a majority share of the company was acquired by Russian interests.<ref name="reuters20130204" /><ref name="sealaunch20101027">{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2010/nr_101027.html |title=Sea Launch Company Emerges From Chapter 11 |publisher=Sea Launch |first1=Chris |last1=Picone |first2=Peter G. |last2=Stier |date=October 27, 2010 |access-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927163423/http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2010/nr_101027.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
!Founding company
!Initial share<ref name="energiapartner" />
(1995&nbsp;to&nbsp;2010)
!Share<ref name="reuters20130204" />
(2010&nbsp;to&nbsp;2018)
!Contribution
|-
|[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|Energia]]
|25%
|95%
|[[Block D|Block DM-SL]] rocket stage (it is used in the Zenit-3SL rocket as its 3rd stage)
|-
|[[Boeing Commercial Space]]
|40%
|2.5%
|System integration, payload enclosures (nose-cone that protects the satellite during launch)
|-
|[[Aker Solutions]]
|20%
|2.5%
|Launch platform (''[[Ocean Odyssey]]'') and command ship (''[[Sea Launch Commander]]'')
|-
|[[Yuzhnoye Design Bureau|SDO Yuzhnoye]] / [[Yuzhmash|PO Yuzhmash]]
|15%
|0%
|Two-stage [[Zenit rocket]] (used as [[Zenit-3SL]]'s stages 1 and 2)
|}

The project was helped by [[Hughes Aircraft|Hughes Space and Communications]], which in 1995 signed the first contract for 10 launches and 10 options, valued at $1 billion, and [[Space Systems/Loral]], which then signed a five-launch contract.

Total cost of the project has been reported at $583 million in 1996. [[Chase (bank)|Chase Manhattan]] arranged about $400 million in loans in 1996. Loans were later guaranteed against political instability in Russia and Ukraine through 2012 by the [[World Bank Group|World Bank]] (up to $175 million, of these up to $100 million in Russia and up to $75 million in Ukraine) and the [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]] (up to $65 million).<ref name="orbireport" />

Sea Launch has a reciprocal agreement with [[Arianespace]] and [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]] through the [[Launch Services Alliance]], providing assurance in case either company's system is not able to launch a payload for reasons of reliability, capacity, backlog, or otherwise. This was used for the first time in 2004 when Arianespace's [[Ariane 5]] had to reschedule a group of launches for reliability reasons.

In 1999, shortly after the company was founded, the Sea Launch consortium claimed that their launch-related operating costs would be lower than a land-based equivalent due in part to reduced staff requirements. The platform and command ship have 310 crew members.<ref name="popmech199908">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 |title=Sea Launch |journal=[[Popular Mechanics]] |first=Jim |last=Wilson |volume=176 |issue=8 |pages=64–67 |date=August 1999}}</ref>

==Launches==
{{See also|List of Zenit launches}}{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}[[Image:SeaLaunch-Odyssey.jpg|thumb|300px|Sea Launch launch platform ''[[Ocean Odyssey]]'']]
The first demonstration satellite was launched on March 27, 1999, and the first commercial satellite on October 9, 1999. Sea Launch has launched 36 rockets with 32 successes and 1 partial success as of March 2019. The first failure, of a [[Hughes Aircraft|Hughes]]-built communications satellite owned by [[ICO Satellite Management|ICO Global Communications]], occurred on the second commercial launch on March 12, 2000, and was blamed on a software error that failed to close a valve in the second stage of the rocket.

A second rocket failed to launch on January 30, 2007, when Zenit-3SL exploded on the launch pad with the [[Boeing 702]] NSS-8 satellite on board, seconds after engine ignition.

All Sea Launch missions to date have used the custom-designed three-stage Zenit-3SL launch vehicle, capable of placing up to {{convert|6000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Rocket - Zenit-3SL |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/sllaunch_vehicle.htm |access-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404002737/http://www.sea-launch.com/sllaunch_vehicle.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>  Sea Launch rocket components are manufactured by [[Yuzhnoye Design Bureau|SDO Yuzhnoye]] / [[Yuzhmash|PO Yuzhmash]] in Dnepropetrovsk, USSR ([[Dnipro]], [[Ukraine]]) — [[Zenit rocket]] for the first and second stages; by [[Energia (rocket)|Energia]] in Kaliningrad, USSR ([[Moscow]], [[Russia]]) — [[Block D|Block DM-SL]] for third stage); and by [[Boeing]] in [[Seattle]], [[United States]] —  payload fairing and interstage structure.

Sea Launch rockets were assembled in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], [[California]]. The typical assembly was done on board the Assembly and Command Ship (the payload is first tested, fueled and encapsulated in the nearby Payload Processing Facility). The rocket is then transferred to a horizontal hangar on the self-propelled launch platform.

Following rocket tests, both ships then sail about {{convert|3000|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} to the [[equator]] at 154° West Longitude, {{coord|0|N|154|W|}}, in international" waters about {{convert|370|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Kiritimati]], [[Kiribati]]. The platform travels the distance in about 11 days, the command ship in about eight days.

With the platform ballasted to its launch depth of {{convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on}}, the hangar is opened, the rocket is mechanically moved to a vertical position, and the launch platform crew evacuates to the command ship which moves about {{convert|5|km|mi|spell=in}} away. Then, with the launch platform unmanned, the rocket is fueled and launched.  The final ten seconds before launch are called out simultaneously in [[English language|English]] and [[Russian language|Russian]].

{{bar box
|width    = 
|float    = right
|title    = <small>Number of launches per year</small>
|titlebar = #ddd
|bars     =
{{bar pixel|1999|teal|40|2|2}}
{{bar pixel|2000|teal|60|3|3}}
{{bar pixel|2001|teal|40|2|2}}
{{bar pixel|2002|teal|20|1|1}}
{{bar pixel|2003|teal|60|3|3}}
{{bar pixel|2004|teal|60|3|3}}
{{bar pixel|2005|teal|80|4|4}}
{{bar pixel|2006|teal|100|5|5}}
{{bar pixel|2007|teal|20|1|1}}
{{bar pixel|2008|teal|100|5|5}}
{{bar pixel|2009|teal|20|1|1}}
{{bar pixel|2010|teal|0|0|0}}
{{bar pixel|2011|teal|20|1|1}}
{{bar pixel|2012|teal|60|3|3}}
{{bar pixel|2013|teal|20|1|1}}
{{bar pixel|2014|teal|20|1|1}}
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" width="600px"
|-
! Number
! Date
! Payload
! Mass
! Result
|-
! 1
|1999-03-27
|[[DemoSat]]
|4.5 [[Tonne|t]]
|success
|-
! 2
|1999-10-09
|[[DirecTV|DIRECTV]] [[DirecTV satellite fleet#Satellites and their orbits|1-R]]
|3.5 t
|success
|-
! 3
|2000-03-12
|[[ICO Satellite Management|ICO]] F-1
|2.7 t
|'''''failure'''''
|-
! 4
|2000-07-28
|PAS 9 ([[Intelsat 9]])
|3.7 t
|success
|-
! 5
|2000-10-20
|[[Thuraya-1]]
|5.1 t
|success
|-
! 6
|2001-03-18
|[[XM Satellite Radio|XM]]-2 ROCK
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 7
|2001-05-08
|[[XM-1 ROLL]]
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 8
|2002-06-15
|[[Galaxy 3C|Galaxy IIIC]]
|4.9 t
|success
|-
! 9
|2003-06-10
|[[Thuraya-2]]
|5.2 t
|success
|-
! 10
|2003-08-08
|[[EchoStar Communications Corporation|EchoStar]] IX (aka [[Telstar]] 13)
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 11
|2003-10-01
|[[Galaxy XIII]] (aka [[Horizons-1]])
|4.1 t
|success
|-
! 12
|2004-01-10
|[[Telstar 14]] (aka [[Estrela do Sul 1]])
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 13
|2004.05.04
|[[DirecTV satellite fleet|DirecTV 7S]]
|5.5 t
|success
|-
! 14
|2004-06-28
|[[Telstar 18]]
|4.8 t
|'''''launch anomaly'''''
|-
! 15
|2005-03-01
|XM-3 (Rhythm)
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 16
|2005-04-26
|[[Spaceway-1|Spaceway 1]]
|6.0 t
|success
|-
! 17
|2005-06-23
|[[Intelsat]] IA-8
|5.5 t
|success
|-
! 18
|2005-11-08
|[[International Mobile Satellite Organization|Inmarsat]] 4-F2
|6.0 t
|success
|-
! 19
|2006-02-15
|[[EchoStar X]]
|4.3 t
|success
|-
! 20
|2006-04-12
|[[JCSAT-9|JCSAT 9]]
|4.4 t
|success
|-
! 21
|2006-06-18
|[[Galaxy 16]]
|5.1 t
|success
|-
! 22
|2006-08-22
|[[Koreasat 5]]
|4.9 t
|success
|-
! 23
|2006-10-30
|[[XM Satellite Radio|XM-4 (Blues)]]
|4.7 t
|success
|-
! 24
|2007-01-30
|[[NSS-8]]
|5.9 t
|'''''failure'''''
|-
! 25
|2008-01-15
|[[Thuraya]]-3
|5.2 t
|success
|-
! 26
|2008-03-19
|[[DirecTV-11]]
|5.9 t
|success
|-
! 27
|2008-05-21
|[[Galaxy 18]]
|4.6 t
|success
|-
! 28
|2008-07-16
|[[EchoStar Communications Corporation|EchoStar]] XI
|5.5 t
|success<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2008/nr_080716.html |title=Sea Launch Successfully Delivers EchoStar XI to Orbit |publisher=Sea Launch |date=July 16, 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430035737/http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2008/nr_080716.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
|-
! 29
|2008-09-24
|[[Galaxy 19]]
|4.7 t
|success<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2008/nr_082409.html |title=Sea Launch Successfully Delivers Galaxy 19 to Orbit |publisher=Sea Launch |date=September 24, 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2009 |archive-date=April 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429134902/http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2008/nr_082409.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! 30
|2009-04-20
|[[SICRAL 1B]]
|3.0 t
|success<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2009/nr_090420.html |title=Sea Launch Successfully Delivers SICRAL 1B Satellite to Orbit |publisher=Sea Launch |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107115407/http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2009/nr_090420.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! 31
|2011-09-24
|[[Atlantic Bird|Atlantic Bird 7]]
|4.6 t
|success
|-
! 32
|2012-05-31
|[[Intelsat 19]]
|5.6 t
|success<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Sea_Launch_Delivers_the_Intelsat_19_Spacecraft_into_Orbit_999.html |title=Sea Launch Delivers the Intelsat 19 Spacecraft into Orbit |publisher=space travel |date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>
|-
! 33
|2012-08-19
|[[Intelsat 21]]
|6.0 t
|success
|-
! 34
|2012-12-03
|[[Eutelsat 70B]]
|5.2 t
|success
|-
! 35
|2013-02-01
|[[Intelsat 27]]
|6.2 t
|'''''failure'''''<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news/11348 |title=Sea Launch Experiences a Launch Failure on Intelsat 27 Mission |publisher=Sea Launch |date=February 1, 2013}}</ref>
|-
! 36
|2014-05-26
|[[Eutelsat 3B]]
|6.0 t
|success<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news/11407 |title=Sea Launch Successfully Launches EUTELSAT 3B |publisher=Sea Launch |date=May 27, 2014 |access-date=May 27, 2014 |archive-date=May 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527220635/http://www.sea-launch.com/news/11407 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==NSS-8 launch failure==
{{see also|NSS-8}}
[[Image:SeaLaunch-explosion.jpg|thumb|The Sea Launch NSS-8 launch explosion on January 30, 2007. The explosion has obscured the floating launch pad platform.]]
On January 30, 2007, the Sea Launch [[Zenit-3SL]] rocket carrying [[NSS-8]] and 500 tons of fuel<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4212403.html |title=Satellite-Strapped Rocket Explodes on Platform (Video) |magazine=Popular Mechanics}}</ref> exploded on (flight) launch.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2007/nr_070130.html |title=Sea Launch Experiences Anomaly during NSS-8 Launch |publisher=Sea Launch |access-date=January 30, 2007 |date=January 30, 2007}}</ref> Available imagery<ref>which includes a {{YouTube |title=video of the accident |id=eMG2SBwIcrM}}</ref> shows a fireball much larger than the launch platform at sea level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/nss8/ |title=Sea Launch Rocket Explodes on Pad |publisher=Spaceflightnow.com |date=January 30, 2007 |first=Justin |last=Ray}}</ref>

Since the launch pad platform is vacated by all engineers during the automated launch process, there were no injuries. On February 1, 2007, Sea Launch released a statement detailing its status.<ref>{{cite press release |date=February 1, 2007 |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2007/nr_070201.html |title=Sea Launch Assesses Status and Plans for Next Steps |publisher=Sea Launch}}</ref>

It is believed that the failure was caused by a foreign object being ingested by the engine turbopump, causing the rocket to crash immediately.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Zenit rocket explodes on the launch pad in the Pacific Ocean |publisher=russianspaceweb.com |date=January 30, 2007 |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/zenit_nss8.html}}</ref>

On February 3, 2007, photographs of the damage were posted on internet forums.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sea Launch makes for home as investigation continues |date=February 4, 2007 |first=Chris |last=Bergin |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/02/sea-launch-makes-for-home-as-investigation-continues/ |publisher=nasaspaceflight.com}}</ref> The launch platform damage is mostly superficial, though [[blast deflector]]s underneath the launch platform were knocked loose and were lost when they fell into the sea.

In March 2007, shortly after the NSS-8 launch failure, [[Hughes Network Systems]] switched the launch of [[SPACEWAY-3]] from a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL to an [[Ariane 5]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.hughes.com/HNS%20Library%20Press%20Release/03-01-07%20Hughes%20Signs%20Contract%20with%20Arianespace%20to%20Launch%20SPACEWAY%203.htm |title=Hughes Signs Contract with Arianespace to Launch SPACEWAY 3 |date=March 1, 2007 |publisher=Hughes}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/sis/news/2005/q4/nr_051208s.html |title=Sea Launch awarded SPACEWAY 3 contract by Hughes Network Systems |date=December 8, 2005 |publisher=Sea Launch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629092525/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/sis/news/2005/q4/nr_051208s.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Repairs of the launch platform were completed in September 2007.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2007/nr_070903.html |title=Sea Launch Receives Zenit-3SL Hardware for Next Launches |publisher=Sea Launch |date=September 3, 2007}}</ref> The Sea Launch platform underwent repairs in Canada, docked near [[CFB Esquimalt]], just west of [[Victoria, British Columbia]], and departed on July 31, 2007. Both vessels returned to their home Nimitz military port in [[Long Beach, California]], U.S.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2007/nr_070823.html |title=New Gas Deflector Arrives at Sea Launch Home Port |publisher=Sea Launch |date=August 23, 2007}}</ref>

==Concerns and investigations==
During project development in 1998 Boeing was fined US$10 million by the [[United States Department of State]] for technical violations of the [[Arms Export Control Act]] in handling of missile technology while dealing with its foreign Sea Launch partners. This is the largest civil penalty of its kind, although it could have been as much as US$102 million.<ref name=csm>{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Woodard |publisher=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] via the [[Federation of American Scientists]] |title=High-seas launch worries islanders |date=September 22, 1999 |url=http://www.fas.org/news/ukraine/p5s1.htm}}</ref> The Sea Launch project was suspended for two months during the investigation.

The Department of State found that between January 1994 and January 1998 Boeing illegally exported "defense articles" and "defense services", although no national security breaches were determined.<ref>{{cite news |first=James V |last=Grimaldi |newspaper=The Seattle Times |title=Boeing Dodges Stiffer Fine, Resumes Sea Launch Project -- No National Security Breach In Satellite-Launching Program; Criminal Charges Aren't Likely |date=October 1, 1998 |url=http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2775229&date=19981001&query=sea+launch+export}}</ref> The violations were uncovered by Boeing's internal investigation.

At about the same time [[United States Customs Service]] attempted to block Sea Launch from bringing Zenit-3SL rockets (classified as missiles) into [[California]] for assembly without a munitions import licence. The matter was settled in the company's favour.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Kempton |first1=Daniel |first2=Susan |last2=Balc |conference=Convention of International Studies |location=Hong Kong |publisher=[[International Studies Association]] |title=High Seas Satellite Launches: Paragon of Post Cold War Cooperation or Unregulated Danger? |date=August 10, 2001 |url=http://isanet.ccit.arizona.edu/archive/Sea%20Launch%20notes.html}}</ref>

Also in 1998, 16 member states of the [[Pacific Islands Forum|South Pacific Forum]] issued a communiqué asking the United States to suspend the project indefinitely until and unless their environmental concerns are remedied. It was mostly criticized by the island nation of [[Kiribati]].<ref name=csm/>

The project was criticized in 1997 by [[International Transport Workers' Federation]] (ITWF) for registering its ocean vessels in [[Liberia]].<ref name=csm/> In May 1999 Sea Launch reached an agreement with the ITWF, which allows crew members to use ITWF inspectors.

In Russia, since 2014, a criminal investigation has been ongoing against the former president of [[Energia (corporation)|RSC Energia]], Vitaly Lopota. Investigators accuse him of illegally repaying Sea Launch’s debts and purchasing its shares to the detriment of the corporation’s core activities in 2010-2013. Lopota does not admit guilt, and the Russian Prosecutor General's Office has already twice rejected charges against him. In November 2023, the Investigative Committee again brought charges, this time reducing the amount from 9 billion rubles to 4.2 billion rubles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6323465|title="Морской старт" доплыл до окончательных обвинений|language=ru|date=2023-11-10|website=[[Kommersant]]}}</ref>

==Land launch==
{{main|Land Launch}}
Using existing Zenit infrastructure at the military [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], the "Land Launch" system is based on a modified version of the Sea Launch vehicle, the three stage Zenit-3SL mod.B rocket. Land Launch's Zenit 3SLB vehicle addresses the launch needs of Block DM (syncom, U.S.), Block Boeing witch TDRSS, commercial satellites weighing up to {{convert|3.5|MT|ST|lk=on}}. The two stage Zenit 2 (first stage LV "Energia) is also available for lifting payloads up to {{convert|13|MT|ST}} to LEO [[low Earth orbit]]s.

The first launch was on April 28, 2008, (04.28.2008) when a [[Zenit rocket|Zenit-3SLB]] launched Spacecom Ltd's [[AMOS-3]] spacecraft from LC 45/1 (launch pad) at Baikonur.

==Advantages of equatorial ocean-platform based launches==
[[Image:SeaLaunch-Commander.jpg|thumb|300px|Sea Launch command ship ''[[Sea Launch Commander]]'']]
Advantages of equatorial launch site:
*The rotational speed of the Earth is greatest at the equator, providing an extra launch "boost".
*The need for a "[[orbital inclination change|plane change]]" to the zero degree inclination of geostationary orbit is eliminated, providing a major extra launch "boost". This allows 17.5–25% more mass to be launched to geostationary orbit than the same rocket launched from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]], which is at 28.5 degrees north latitude. {{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
*Any orbital inclination could be reached, thus (for example) combining in one launch site the attainable inclinations of both Cape Canaveral and [[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg]].

Advantages of ocean-based over a conventional land-based launch platform:
*An ocean launch reduces risks related to launching over populated areas, providing better safety to third parties.
*Absence of range conflicts with other launch systems and a near total absence of ship or overhead air traffic that would constrain launch.

== Honors and References ==
Sea Launch LLC was awarded the [[Space Foundation]]'s Space Achievement Award in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Space Achievement Award |publisher=National Space Symposium |url=http://2010.nationalspacesymposium.org/node/583|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612074752/http://2010.nationalspacesymposium.org/node/583|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 12, 2010}}</ref>

The Sea Launch program has been extensively documented in a book by [[Valery Aliev|Valery Aliyev]] — ''Sea Launch. Space and Ocean: The Sea-Based Rocket and Space Complex. Project History. Development and Operation Experience'', which provides an in-depth account of its development, operations, and technological innovations.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Алиев |first=Валерий |last2=Легостаев |first2=Виктор |date=2014 |title=«Создание и пятнадцатилетний опыт эксплуатации ракетно-космической системы «Морской старт» |url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/sozdanie-i-pyatnadtsatiletniy-opyt-ekspluatatsii-raketno-kosmicheskoy-sistemy-morskoy-start/viewer |journal=Космическая техника и технологии |volume=2 |issue=(5) |pages=3-13 |via=Cyberleninka.ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://primo.nlr.ru/permalink/f/df0lai/07NLR_LMS012548419 |title=Морской старт. Космос и океан: ракетно-космический комплекс морского базирования. История проекта. Опыт разработки и эксплуатации |publisher=Перо |year=2020 |isbn=978-5-00171-739-3 |location=Moscow |publication-date=2021 |pages=552 |language=ru |trans-title=Sea Launch. Space and Ocean: The Sea-Based Rocket and Space Complex. Project History. Development and Operation Experience.}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikinews|Zenit rocket explodes on launch pad}}
* [[Expendable launch system]]
* [[Launch vehicle#By launch platform|Launch vehicle types by launch platform]]
* [[NewSpace]]
* [[Sea Dragon (rocket)|Sea Dragon]]
* [[Aquarius Launch Vehicle]]
* [[Autonomous spaceport drone ship]]
* [[Orienspace]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sea-launch.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427224125/http://www.sea-launch.com/ |date=April 27, 2006 }}
* [http://www.energia.ru/en/launchers/launchers.html Sea Launch and Land Launch website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915014418/https://www.energia.ru/en/launchers/launchers.html |date=September 15, 2017 }} at Energia.ru
* [http://www.lyngsat.com/launches/Sea-Launch.html Sea Launch launch manifest] at LyngSat.com

{{Spaceport}}

[[Category:Commercial launch service providers]]
[[Category:Commercial spaceflight]]
[[Category:Space industry companies of Russia]]
[[Category:Space organizations]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009]]
[[Category:Sea launch to orbit]]
[[Category:Aker Solutions]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 1995]]