Sea Launch User's Guide

Evacuation of
personnel
All personnel, except for critical launch vehicle technicians, are
transferred to the ACS, the connecting bridge is stowed, and the ACS is
repositioned 6.5 km away.
After the launch vehicle technicians complete final prelaunch checkouts,
the technicians are quickly transferred by helicopter to the ACS just
before rocket fueling.
From this point on, the launch platform is under remote operations
control from the ACS. Radio frequency links provide communications
between the ground support equipment rooms and the spacecraft.
Propellant loading
A poll of launch management and the customer is conducted to give the
“go” for launch vehicle propellant loading. The Zenit-3SL is loaded with
propellants and compressed gases starting at L-3 hr. Launch holds of up
to 4 hr can be accommodated and if a launch abort is called a recycle to a
second launch attempt can be accomplished within 24 hr.
Second “go” poll
The next poll is conducted before disconnecting the launch vehicle
umbilical. The transporter/erector returns to the hangar at L-17 min. Up
to this point, a hold of 1 hr can be accommodated. Beyond this time the
Zenit-3SL must be reinitialized, which takes up to 5 days.
Reinitialization entails draining oxygen and kerosene from the Zenit-
3SL, charging the spacecraft batteries if required, and returning the ILV
to the hangar. Conditioned airflow to the spacecraft will be continued
through any abort or recycle operations.
Zenit-3SL in
vertical
configuration
The Zenit-3SL is held in place on the launch table by hold down clamps
at the base of the first stage. These clamps are not released until
computers confirm that the Stage 1 operating thrust has been reached. In
order to minimize exhaust effects on the launch platform and acoustic
effects on the spacecraft, a water deluge system is used in the flame
bucket (see fig. 8-24).
8-22 D688-10009-1 REV B