History
The concept for Sea Launch originated in the early 1990’s, when numerous commercial voice, data and broadband satellite constellations were being planned for launch. After the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), RSC Energia looking to utilize their wealth of space expertise, in conjunction with The Boeing Company, Kvaerner, Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye agreed to do conceptual studies on what an ocean-based Zenit-3SL launch system would look like.
Since its inception in 1995, and its first demonstrati on flight in 1999, Sea Launch has carved out a niche as one of the industry’s premier launch providers that has brought innovation, competition, diversity of supply and service to the world’s satellite operators. Through its unique structure as a commercial launch provider, and without direct benefit of being a nationally subsidized launch system, Sea Launch has pioneered time-proven methods of launching heavy spacecraft reliability and on schedule.
Sea Launch has since went on to create history, playing an important role in launching over 160,000 kilograms to orbit for a variety of commercial and hybrid spacecraft – in the process playing its part in helping to create entirely new industries such as Satellite Radio and Mobile Satellite Services.
SEA LAUNCH TIMELINE
| Summer 1993 | Exploratory discussions occur. |
| Spring 1994 | Conceptual studies of the Sea Launch complex begin. |
| April 1995 | The Sea Launch LLC joint partnership is formed between The Boeing Company (40 %), RSC Energia (25 %), Kvaerner (20%), and Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye (15 %). |
| December 1995 | Hughes Space and Communications signs first order for 10 launches. Kvaerner begins construction of Assembly and Command Ship. |
| July 1996 | Hughes Space and Communications commits to three more launches. Space Systems Loral orders five satellite launches. |
| August 1996 | Groundbreaking occurs at the 17 acre “Home Port” site in Long Beach, California. |
| December 1996 | Sea Launch Commander vessel completed and launched from Kvaerner’s Govan shipyard near Glascow, Scotland. |
| May 1997 | Odyssey Launch platform completes modifications at the Kvaerner Rosenberg Shipyard in Stavanger, Norway. Heads to Vyborg, Russia for installation. |
| September 1997 | Sea Launch Commander christened. |
| May 1998 | Modifications to Sea Launch Commander and the Odyssey completed in Russia. |
| June 1998 | Sea Launch Commander leaves St. Petersburg, Russia for Long Beach, carrying the first two Sea Launch vehicles. The Odyssey leaves Vyborg Russian shipyard for Long Beach travelling through the Suez canal. |
| Summer/Fall 1998 | Vessels arrive at Home Port; final preparations begin. |
| March 1999 | First launch – Demonstration Payload. |
| March 2009 | Sea Launch celebrates 10 years of launch operations. |
| April 2009 | Sea Launch completes its 30th launch mission, with the launch of Sicral-1B. |
| June 2009 | Sea Launch Company LLC filed voluntary petitions to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States. |
| October 2010 | Sea Launch emerges from Chapter 11 restructuring. |
| September 2011 | Return to Launch Operations. |
| December 2012 | 5 launches in 14 months! |
| January 2013 | 35th launch takes place. |
| March 2014 | Sea Launch celebrates 15 years of launch operations.
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