Sea Launch Project

Assembly and testing of Zenit-2S launch vehicle #14L and Block DM-SL Upper Stage #16L.

Delivery of the Payload Unit (PLU) with DirecTV 7S to the Assembly-Command Ship (ACS).

PLU mating with US.

Check of the completely assembled Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV).

Readiness Review for ILV transfer from ACS to the Launch Platform (LP).

Transfer of Zenit-7S ILV # SL14 from ACS to LP. ILV installation in the LP hanger onto the erector.

Final readiness review for the DirecTV 7S mission and signing of the decision on the readiness of all Sea Launch RSC segments and services for mission implementation by Sea Launch Company.

Execution of operations under the ILV Dry Roll-Out program.

LP departure from Home Port for the launch site.

ACS departure from Home Port for the launch site.

ACS and LP transit to the launch site. Conduct of integrated rehearsals of the pre-launch processing with support of MCC in Korolev. In the course of rehearsals - simulation of off-nominal situations, try-out of the procedure for introducing a delay of the pre-launch processing, as well as of nominal execution of the pre-launch processing, ILV launch, and flight reporting training.

ACS and LP arrival at the launch site. Launch Platform ballast trimming.

LP/ACS equipment preparation for the ILV launch.

First launch day activities: making Rocket Segment systems ready for activities on the launch site, ILV processing, activities at the Launch Measurement Complex. Sea Launch RSC readiness review for activities on the launch site and launch of the Zenit-3SL ILV # SL14 with the DirecTV-7S SC.

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 onto the launch pad, PLU stand-alone checks, ILV electrical checks, execution of the critical launch readiness checklist.

Third launch day activities (Daylight Saving Pacific Time ):

• 20:55 transportation of the launch personnel via helicopter to LP to perform pre-launch activities;
• 23:42:00 "6 h to LOC" command implementation;
• 00:42:00 "Program Start" command implementation, start of nominal launch readiness checklist and ILV fueling;
• 04:40 evacuation of the last group of the Rocket and Sea Segment personnel via helicopter from LP;
• 05:41:59. 117 "Lift-Off Contact" signal passage.

At 12 h 41 min 59.177 s Greenwich Time (16 h 41 min 59.177 s Moscow Time) the thirteenth launch from the Odyssey Launch Platform under the Sea Launch program is complete.The DirecTV 7S SC insertion into the target geosynchronous transfer orbit from the parking orbit formed by the two-stage Zenit-2S LV was performed by DM-SL US. The Upper Stage whose main engine was fired 10 s after separation of the Block together with SC from the second stage of LV, having run about 11 min., made the spacecraft reach the calculated target orbit to a high accuracy.15 minutes after SC separation the signal receipt from SC and its nominal position are confirmed.Conduct of a maneuver of placing US into a disposal orbit and its safing.

Post-launch operations on LP and ACS.

Start of ACS and LP transit to Home Port.