Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket, carrying New Skies’ NSS-8 satellite, failed during lauch from the Odyssey Platform in the equatorial Pacific, leading to the total loss of the satellite.
Sea Launch said it was trying to determine the root cause of the lauch failure.
NSS-8 was built by Boeing. The spacecraft was intended to operate at SES NEW SKIES orbital position of 57° East to replace the existing NSS-703 satellite. New Skies said the launch failure of NSS-8 means that NSS-703 will now stay at 57° East in order to continue to serve existing customers until at least 2009. The company has already initiated the construction of NSS-9 for launch in 2009 into the Pacific Ocean Region. NSS-9 is intended to free up NSS-5 which in turn will then be available to relocate to 57° to replace NSS-703.
http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/http://www.newskies.comBecause of its launch site on the Equator, the Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on geostationary orbit. The rocket component are manufactured in Ukraine, Russia and the state of Washington. Sea Launch’s home port is Long Beach, California.
