SPACE.com -- Sea Launch Studying Use of Baikonur Cosmodrome

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	Sea Launch Studying Use of Baikonur Cosmodrome By Jim Banke Senior Producer, Cape Canaveral Bureau posted: 03:45 pm ET 20 September 2002

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Sea Launch is exploring the possibility of launching a version of their Zenit rockets from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, company officials confirmed Friday.

"Sea Launch and Boeing Launch Services are seriously evaluating the business case for commercial launches from Baikonur," company president Jim Maser said in a statement prepared for SPACE.com.

However, citing anonymous sources within the Russian Space Agency (Rosavikosmos), the Interfax news service reported Thursday that the idea was a done deal and launches from Baikonur would begin in 2004.

Sea Launch officials would not offer any additional details about their plans for the Kazakhstan launch site.

The company currently stages its commercial satellite delivery missions from the Odyssey launch platform, which is sailed from Long Beach, Calif., to a spot on the equator in the Pacific Ocean for each shot. Command and control of the launch is handled from the Sea Launch Commander ship floating nearby.

By launching directly on the equator, the Zenit 3SL rocket is able to carry heavier satellites into Earth orbit by taking maximum advantage of the speed of the planet's rotation.

As a result, Zenit rocket launches from Baikonur -- which is located well north of the equator -- would send smaller payloads into orbit than those flown from the Pacific Ocean launch site. Sea Launch would continue to operate from both places so it could serve a wider range of customers.

Sea Launch missions are marketed by Boeing Launch Services, which also markets the Boeing Delta family of launch vehicles. The company has launched eight Zenits from its floating launch complex and all but one were successful. Another mission is planned yet this year.

Sea Launch is a joint venture of companies from the United States, Russia, Norway and Ukraine. Boeing and RSC Energia are the two largest investors.