DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246479
TITLE=SEA LAUNCH SATELLITES
(L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE FIRST PRIVATE-SECTOR EFFORT TO SEND SATELLITES INTO
SPACE WILL LAUNCH A ROCKET FROM THE PACIFIC LATER THIS MONTH.
MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS THE SEA-LAUNCH PROGRAM INVOLVES THE U-S
AEROSPACE COMPANY BOEING AND THREE EUROPEAN PARTNERS.
TEXT: THE SEA-LAUNCH CONSORTIUM SAYS ITS TEST LAUNCH WILL TAKE
PLACE MARCH 26TH. THIS WEEK, THE MISSION'S FLOATING CONTROL
CENTER -- A SHIP CALLED THE "SEA LAUNCH COMMANDER" -- WILL SET
SAIL FROM LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TOGETHER WITH THE
SELF-PROPELLED LAUNCH PLATFORM.
THE TEST LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE 22-HUNDRED KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST
OF HAWAII. FUTURE LAUNCHES WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE THERE BECAUSE
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES, WHICH SEA LAUNCH WILL PUT INTO ORBIT,
ARE GEOSTATIONARY. THAT IS, THEY STAY IN ONE POSITION, ABOVE THE
EQUATOR.
SEA LAUNCH OFFICIAL AMY BUHRIG SAYS EQUATORIAL LIFTOFFS ARE MORE
EFFICIENT THAN LAUNCHES FROM SITES LIKE CAPE CANAVERAL, WHICH IS
28 DEGREES ABOVE THE EQUATOR.
/// OPT BUHRIG ACT ///
BY LAUNCHING AT THE EQUATOR, WE CAN LIFT ABOUT TWELVE TO
FIFTEEN PERCENT HEAVIER SPACECRAFT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING
DIRECTLY UP AS OPPOSED TO STARTING FROM 28 DEGREES AND
HAVING TO MAKE A TURN IN SPACE.
/// END OPT -- END ACT ///
MS. BUHRIG SAYS THE LAUNCH PLATFORM IS A CONVERTED OIL RIG THAT
IS TWENTY-ONE STORIES HIGH. WHEN THE PLATFORM ARRIVES AT THE
LAUNCH SITE, IT IS PARTLY SUBMERGED TO A DEPTH OF TWENTY-ONE
METERS TO MAKE IT MORE STABLE.
/// SECOND BUHRIG ACT ///
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS GIVE US A LOT OF STABILITY, SO AS
THINGS ARE MOVING AROUND ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLATFORM,
THIS SUBMERGED DISPLACEMENT KEEPS THE PLATFORM FROM
MOVING.
/// END ACT ///
AFTER THE MARCH 26TH TEST LAUNCH OF A DUMMY SATELLITE, THE FIRST
COMMERCIAL SATELLITE LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST OR
SEPTEMBER. THE COMPANY NOW HAS CONTRACTS FOR SIXTEEN LAUNCHES,
WHICH IT HOPES TO MAKE AT A RATE OF SIX TO TWELVE PER YEAR.
THE SEA LAUNCH CONSORTIUM IS MADE UP OF BOEING COMMERCIAL SPACE
COMPANY, A RUSSIAN AND A UKRAINIAN FIRM -- WHICH PROVIDE THE
SIXTY-THREE METER "ZENIT" ROCKETS, AND A NORWEGIAN MARITIME
COMPANY.
LAST FALL, BOEING PAID A TEN MILLION DOLLAR FINE FOLLOWING
ALLEGATIONS THAT IT DISCLOSED SECRET U-S TECHNOLOGY TO ITS
FOREIGN PARTNERS. BUT A SEA LAUNCH OFFICIAL SAYS THE CONTINUING
PROBE WILL NOT DELAY THE TEST LAUNCH. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
(NOTE: THE FOREIGN COMPANIES ARE KVAERNER MARITIME A-S OF NORWAY,
R-S-C ENERGIA OF RUSSIA AND K-B YUZHNOYE/P-O YUZHMASH OF
UKRAINE.)
10-Mar-99 8:11 PM EST (0111 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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