Sea Launch User's Guide

Geosynchronous
transfer orbit
The Zenit-3SL can deliver large satellites to a variety of GTOs. For
maxium payload mass a standard GTO uses a single Block DM-SL burn
and is defined by table 3-2 at the time of first apogee passage.
Table 3-2. Single Block DM-SL Burn Standard GTO Parameters
Orbital Parameter
Perigee altitude
Apogee altitude
Inclination
Value at First Apogee Passage
200 km
35,786 km
0 deg
GTO parametric
performance
In addition to the standard GTO mission, the Zenit-3SL can deliver the
spacecraft to orbits with lofted perigees and sub- or supersynchronous
apogees. For missions with perigee altitudes less than 250 km, a single
Block DM-SL burn provides optimum performance. For perigee altitudes
above 250 km, two Block DM-SL burns provide optimum performance.
The maximum payload capability for a range of typical GTO perigees
and apogees is shown in figures 3-5 and 3-6.
Sea Launch can provide a range of argument of perigee and longitude of
apogee values without a performance penalty for GTOs with perigee altitudes
in the 250 to 2100 km range. This is due to the characteristics of
the injection scheme typically used for this perigee range.
REV B D688-10009-1 3-9