Spaceflight Now | Sea Launch Mission Report

Sea Launch mission events

SPACEFIGHT NOW
Posted: March 11, 2000

T+0:00:00	Liftoff
The first stage RD-171 engine ignites and the Zenit 3SL rocket lifts off from the Odyssey launch platform in the Pacific Ocean. The rocket heads towards the southeast with the ICO F-1 satellite.

T+0:02:25	Staging, second stage ignition
The spent first stage of the Zenit rocket is separated from the second stage, which ignites its RD-120 engine to continue the trip to orbit.

T+0:02:58	Payload fairing separation
The payload fairing that protected the ICO satellite during atmospheric ascent is jettisoned after no longer being needed.

T+0:09:04	Second stage separation
Having completed its job, the second stage of the Zenit booster is separated to fall back to Earth.

T+0:09:14	Third stage ignition
The Russian-built Block DM-SL upper stage is ignited for the first of two planned firings to place the ICO satellite into the desired orbit around Earth.

T+0:17:01	Third stage shutdown
The Block DM-SL third stage engine is commanded to shut down follow its first firing. The stage and attached ICO satellite now enter a long coast period around Earth.

T+1:57:01	Third stage restart
The second firing of the Block DM-SL begins as the stage's engine is reignited to place the ICO satellite into the proper Medium-Earth-Orbit.

T+1:59:21	Third stage shutdown
Block DM-SL shuts down after finishing its second burn. This completes the powered flight to place the ICO payload into orbit.

T+2:09:21	Spacecraft separation
The first ICO cellular telephone and data relay satellite, known as ICO F-1, is released into space from the Block DM-SL upper stage.

Data source: Sea Launch.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Sea Launch
Payload: ICO F-1
Launch date: March 12, 2000
Launch time: 1449:15 GMT (9:49:15 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Equator, 154 deg. West, Pacific Ocean

Pre-launch Briefing
Ground track - A map shows the track the Zenit will follow to orbit.

Rocket - A look at the Zenit 3SL rocket and Block DM-SL upper stage.

The Sea Launch vessels - Overviews of the Sea Launch Commander and Odyssey launch platform.

ICO preview - Story explains ICO system and its history.

ICO satellite - The Hughes-built craft features breakthroughs.

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