Sea Launch User's Guide

5.2 Structural Loads
Overview
The structural loading environments on all spacecraft primary and secondary
structure are examined for
• Ground transportation and handling.
• Flight.
• Spacecraft sinusoidal vibration testing.
Compliance requirements of the spacecraft to these environments are in
section 6.
Quasi-static load
factors for ground
handling and
transportation
The Sea Launch system will not induce loads on the spacecraft that exceed
the load factor envelope shown in figure 5-1 during spacecraft
ground and ocean transportation, handling, and processing.
The acceleration levels are shown for the spacecraft center of gravity.
The accelerations can act simultaneously in the horizontal and vertical
directions. The magnitude of the vector sum of the horizontal load factors
for the two orthogonal horizontal directions is 0.5 g. The accelerations in
figure 5-1 apply when the integrated launch vehicle is vertical or horizontal
and while it is being erected or lowered.
The orientation of the spacecraft when the Zenit-3SL is horizontal or
vertical is shown in figures 5-2 and 5-3, respectively.
Vertical, g
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Horizontal, g
–1.0 –0.5 0 0.5 1.0
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Figure 5-1. Transportation and Handling Limit Load Factors
REV B D688-10009-1 5-3