Zenit-3SL

From the beginning of the program a Zenit-3 version was proposed for geosynchronous launches using the N1/Proton Block D third stage. This had the potential of replacing the Proton in the role of geosynchronous launcher. It was considered for launch from Australia / Cape York in the 1980's. Finally a joint US-Norwegian-Ukraininan-Russian consortium was formed to launch the three stage commercial Zenit from the Odyssey floating launch platform in the Pacific Ocean.

Manufacturer: Yuzhnoye. Launches: 24. Failures: 3. Success Rate: 87.50%. First Launch Date: 1999-03-28. Last Launch Date: 2007-01-30. Launch data is: continuing. Payload: 5,250 kg (11,570 lb). to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Associated Spacecraft: FS-1300, HS 601 , HS 702. Liftoff Thrust: 7,300.000 kN (1,641,100 lbf). Total Mass: 471,000 kg (1,038,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Total Length: 59.60 m (195.50 ft). Launch Price $: 90.000 million. in: 1999 price dollars.

Version of the Zenit-3SL modified for launch from existing ground facilities at Baikonur, using the common Zenit-2SB core vehicle with an upper stage Block DM-SLB designed by RSC Energia (Russia) and a new payload fairing designed by NPO Lavochkin (Russia).

The Sea Launch Board of Directors voted on September 30, 2003, to offer launch services from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in addition to its sea-based launches at the Equator. The new offering, Land Launch, was based on the collaboration of Sea Launch Company and Space International Services, of Russia, to meet the launch needs of commercial customers with medium weight satellites.

The Land Launch system uses a version of the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket, the Zenit 3SLB, to lift commercial satellites in the 2,000 to 3,500-kilogram range to GTO and heavier payloads to inclined or lower orbits. The three stages on the Zenit 3SLB were the same as those on the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL, with the only significant difference between two being the fairing. A two-stage configuration of the same rocket, the Zenit 2SLB, was also available for launching heavy payloads, or groups of payloads, to LEO. Payloads and vehicles would be processed and launched from existing Zenit facilities at the Baikonur launch site. The first Land Launch mission, carrying the PAS-11 satellite for PanAmSat, was scheduled for the second quarter of 2007.12 Expanding on its Sea Launch marketing efforts, Boeing Launch Services, Inc., managed marketing and sales for this new offering.

Manufacturer: Yuzhnoye. Payload: 3,750 kg (8,260 lb). to a: Geosynchronous orbit trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 7,300.000 kN (1,641,100 lbf). Total Mass: 471,000 kg (1,038,000 lb). Core Diameter: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Total Length: 59.60 m (195.50 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Zenit-1. Gross Mass: 354,300 kg (781,000 lb). Empty Mass: 28,600 kg (63,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 8,181.129 kN (1,839,191 lbf). Isp: 337 sec. Burn time: 150 sec. Isp(sl): 311 sec. Diameter: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Span: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Length: 32.90 m (107.90 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-171. Status: In production. Modification of same stage used as strap-on for Energia launch vehicle.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Zenit-2. Gross Mass: 90,600 kg (199,700 lb). Empty Mass: 9,000 kg (19,800 lb). Thrust (vac): 912.000 kN (205,025 lbf). Isp: 349 sec. Burn time: 315 sec. Isp(sl): 0 sec. Diameter: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Span: 3.90 m (12.70 ft). Length: 11.50 m (37.70 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-120. Status: In production.

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: Zenit-3. Gross Mass: 17,300 kg (38,100 lb). Empty Mass: 2,720 kg (5,990 lb). Thrust (vac): 84.920 kN (19,091 lbf). Isp: 352 sec. Burn time: 650 sec. Diameter: 3.70 m (12.10 ft). Span: 3.70 m (12.10 ft). Length: 5.60 m (18.30 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-58M. Status: In production. Adaptation of Block D for Zenit.

1999 March 28 - 01:29 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: Odyssey. Launch Pad: Sea Launch Odyssey. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. Model: Zenit-3SL.

• DemoSat Nation: USA. Payload: HS 702. Mass: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb). Class: Technology. Agency: SeaLaunc. Manufacturer: Boeing, Kent/Seattle. Perigee: 658 km (408 mi). Apogee: 36,045 km (22,397 mi). Inclination: 1.40 deg. COSPAR: 1999-014A. USAF Sat Cat: 25661. The first Boeing Sea Launch mission. The Zenit-3SL lifted off from the Odyssey floating platform on the equator at 154 degrees West longitude. The DemoSat payload was an instrumented dynamic model of an HS-702 satellite built by Boeing Commercial Space/Kent. 13 minutes after launch, the Block DM-SL upper stage completed its first burn and entered a 180 km x 735 km x 1.2 degree parking orbit. A second burn 47 minutes after launch placed DemoSat in a 638 km x 36,064 km x 1.2 degree geostationary transfer orbit. Three hours later, a third DM-SL burn lowered the stage's perigee so that it would re-enter quickly.

• DirecTV 1R Nation: USA. Program: DirecTV. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601 . Agency: DirecTV. Manufacturer: Hughes Space and Communications, El Segundo. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. COSPAR: 1999-056A. USAF Sat Cat: 25937. Second successful Zenit-3SL flight from the Odyssey launch platform in the Pacific Ocean at 154 deg W, 0 deg N. First flight to carry a commercial payload. The satellite used its R-4D apogee engine to enter geostationary orbit at 81.6 deg W. Finally stationed at 101 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 81 deg W in 1999. As of 5 September 2001 located at 101.19 deg W drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 100.87W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.

• ICO F-1 Nation: USA. Mass: 2,750 kg (6,060 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: ICO. Manufacturer: Hughes. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). COSPAR: F000312A. First ICO Global Communications satellite. Lost due to launch vehicle failure; was to have entered a 10,300 km x 45 deg circular orbit. ICO's satellites would carry multiple spot beams for mobile communications. References: 4, 552, 554.

• PAS 9 Nation: USA. Mass: 3,659 kg (8,066 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: Panamsat. Manufacturer: Hughes Space and Communications, El Segundo. Perigee: 35,778 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,796 km (22,242 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2000-043A. USAF Sat Cat: 26451. Panamsat geosynchronous communications satellite to replace PAS 5 at 58 deg W. Stationed at 58 deg W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 58 deg W in 2000. As of 30 August 2001 located at 58.03 deg W drifting at 0.012 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 58.06W drifting at 0.013W degrees per day.References: 4, 552, 554.

• Thuraya 1 Nation: UAE. Program: Thuraya. Payload: Thuraya 1A. Mass: 5,108 kg (11,261 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: Thuraya. Manufacturer: Boeing-ES. Perigee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Apogee: 35,808 km (22,250 mi). Inclination: 5.20 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2000-066A. USAF Sat Cat: 26578. Mobile Communications satellite. Launch delayed from September 18 and October 19. Stationed at 44 deg E. The first Boeing GEM satellite, Thuraya 1, was built by Boeing/El Segundo (formerly Hughes). It was based on the HS-702 design but featured a large 12-m diameter truss antenna for L-band mobile telephone service. Launch mass of Thuraya was 5108 kg; dry mass probably around 3000 kg. The satellite was to be delivered after on orbit testing to Etisalat, the Emirates Telecom Corp of Abu Dhabi, and its Thuraya Satellite subsidiary. Thuraya was launched from the Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean positioned on the equator at 154 deg W. The two-stage Yuzhnoe Zenit core delivered Thuraya and its Energiya Blok DM-SL upper stage to a -2212 x 182 km suborbital trajectory. The first DM-SL burn placed the stack in a 180 x 200 km x 6.3 deg parking orbit at 0604 GMT; a second burn at 0733 GMTput Thuraya in a 210 x 35891 km x 6.3 deg geostationary transfer orbit. A later depletion burn lowered the DM-SL stage perigee to 180 km, as burns by Thuraya's liquid engine raised it towards geosynchronous orbit. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 44 deg E in 2000. As of 5 September 2001 located at 44.22 deg E drifting at 0.003 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 98.57E drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.References: 4, 552, 554.

• XM-2 Rock Nation: USA. Mass: 4,666 kg (10,286 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: XM Radio. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,788 km (22,237 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2001-012A. USAF Sat Cat: 26724. The XM Radio satellites (using Boeing 702 buses) provided digital radio entertainment broadcast to the US. The XM-2 Rock satellite was accompanied by the XM-1 Roll spacecraft launched later in 2001. A Boeing Sea Launch Zenit-3SL took off from the Odyssey floating launch platform at 154W 0 N in the Pacific. The two-stage Zenit put the Blok DM in a suborbital trajectory with a 190 km apogee; the DM first burn went to a 180 x 990 km x 1.3 deg orbit, with the second burn delivering Rock to geostationary transfer orbit. The 4.7 tonne (with fuel), 18 kW satellite carried two transmitters (3 kW each) in the S-band to relay 100 channels of digital quality music uplinked in the X-band from one or more ground stations. It was parked over 114.9 deg-W longitude. The investors include several auto manufacturers who were to be equipping the special receivers in their models. As of 4 September 2001 located at 114.98 deg W drifting at 0.001 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 115.14W drifting at 0.003W degrees per day.References: 4, 552, 554.

• XM-1 Roll Nation: USA. Mass: 37,032 kg (81,641 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: XM Radio. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2001-018A. USAF Sat Cat: 26761. Direct Radio Broadcasting satellite. Second launch attempt following pad abort on January 8. Launch delayed from May 7. XM-1 "Roll" was launched from Sea Launch's Odyssey Launch Platform in the Pacific, on the equator at 154.0 W. Roll joined Rock, launched on March 18, to complete the XM Satellite Radio space segment. The XM-1 satellite was a Boeing Satellite Systems (El Segundo) BSS 702 with a launch mass of 4667 kg and a dry mass of about 2500 kg. It carried an R-4D liquid apogee engine and a XIPS ion station-keeping engine. The satellite's Alcatel communications payload featured an X-band receive antenna which passed digital radio broadcasts on to the two 5-meter S-band transmit antennas. It was to provide one hundred channels of digital music and entertainment to motorists in North America after parking over 85 deg-W. The XM satellites, like the three rival Sirius Radio satellites in inclined elliptical synchronous orbits, were to provide radio broadcasting to North America. The first two stages of the Zenit launch vehicle placed the Block DM-SL upper stage and payload in a 191 km apogee suborbital trajectory at 2219 GMT; the Block-DM-SL then ignited for its first burn, entering a 180 x 990 km x 1.3 deg parking orbit at 2223 GMT. The second burn at 2258 GMT accelerated the stack to a 935 x 35797 km x 1.3 deg geostationary transfer orbit. The XM-1 Roll satellite separated at 2315 GMT. As of 5 September 2001 located at 85.12 deg W drifting at 0.009 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 115.09W drifting at 0.002W degrees per day.References: 4, 296.

• Galaxy 3C Nation: USA. Program: Galaxy. Mass: 4,850 kg (10,690 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: PanAmSat (U.S.). Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,786 km (22,236 mi). Apogee: 35,788 km (22,237 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2002-030A. USAF Sat Cat: 27445. Launch delayed from July 2001 and May 28, June 2 and 9, 2002. The Galaxy 3C satellite was launched from the Odyssey floating launch platform at its standard 154W 0N location. The Zenit second stage and the DM third stage with payload entered a -2160 x 195 km suborbital trajectory at 2248:10. At about 2252 UTC the DM stage entered a 180 x 393 km x 0 deg parking orbit. A second burn of the DM at 2324 to 2330 UTC put Galaxy 3C in a 358 x 41440 km x 0.02 deg transfer orbit This was a record low inclination for a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite's R-4D apogee engine was to put the Boeing BSS-702 satellite in geostationary orbit. The satellite was the first 702 model to use extra solar panels instead of the solar concentrators which ran into fogging problems on the earlier 702 flights. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 95.06W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.References: 4, 552, 554.

• Thuraya 2 Nation: UAE. Program: Thuraya. Mass: 5,177 kg (11,413 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,766 km (22,223 mi). Apogee: 35,806 km (22,248 mi). Inclination: 5.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-026A. USAF Sat Cat: 27825. The Boeing 'GEM' spacecraft was a modified BSS-702 with a 12 m wide antenna for L-band mobile communications. Launch delayed from January 20, then April 4. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 43.94E drifting at 0.004E degrees per day.

• Echostar 9 (Telstar 13) Nation: USA. Program: Echostar. Mass: 4,737 kg (10,443 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Direct Broadcasting. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Echostar. Perigee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Apogee: 35,809 km (22,250 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-034A. USAF Sat Cat: 27854. Originally to have launched December 2002. Echostar 9 carried a Ku and Ka band communications payload for Echostar, and a C-band payload owned by Loral Skynet but about to be sold to Intelsat. Loral called the satellite Telstar 13. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 121.04W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.

• Horizons 1 (Galaxy 13) Nation: USA. Payload: Boeing 601HP. Mass: 4,060 kg (8,950 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: PanAmSat. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 27954. Delayed from late 2002, September 27 2003. The satellite carried both C-band and Ku-band communications payloads. The C-band payload was referred to as Galaxy 13; the Ku-band payload was jointly owned by Panamsat and the Japanese JSAT company and was called Horizons-1. Horizons-1 was to provide digital data services between the Americas and Asia via a relay station in Hawaii. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 127.00W drifting at 0.002E degrees per day.

• Estrela do Sul 1 (Skynet Brazil 1, Telstar 14) Nation: Brazil. Mass: 4,694 kg (10,348 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Loral Skynet do Brasil. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 28137. Initially planned for launch on Delta 4M+ (4,2). Launch delayed from January 10. Placed in geosynchronous orbit but reports indicated there were problems deploying one of the solar panels. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 63.07W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.References: 552, 554.

• DirecTV 7S Nation: USA. Program: DirecTV. Mass: 5,483 kg (12,087 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: DirecTV. Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral. Perigee: 35,730 km (22,200 mi). Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,434.80 min. COSPAR: 2004-016A. USAF Sat Cat: 28238. Delayed from February 29, May 2. Transferred from Ariane 5 under launch backup agreement. Record single payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 119.04W drifting at 0.000E degrees per day.

• Apstar 5 Nation: China. Program: Apstar. Payload: Apstar 1R, Telstar 18, LS-1300. Mass: 4,640 kg (10,220 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: APT Satellite (China). Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral. Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-024A. USAF Sat Cat: 28364. Delayed from November 2003, April 28 2004. Partial failure (upper stage). As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 138.01E drifting at 0.009W degrees per day.

• XM-3 Nation: USA. Payload: XM Rhythm. Mass: 4,703 kg (10,368 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: XM Radio. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,789 km (22,238 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2005-008A. USAF Sat Cat: 28626. Delayed from February 17, 18 and 23, 2005 due to of heavy seas. The satellite would supplement the American XM network's satellite direct-broadcast digital radio service. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 85.14W drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.

• Spaceway 1 Nation: USA. Program: DirecTV. Mass: 6,080 kg (13,400 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: DirecTV. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,789 km (22,238 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2005-015A. USAF Sat Cat: 28644. Heaviest single payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit to that date. Carried 48 high-frequency Ka-band transponders for data transmission and television broadcasting. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 102.80W drifting at 0.005W degrees per day.

• Intelsat Americas 8 Nation: USA. Payload: Telstar 8. Mass: 5,500 kg (12,100 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Intelsat. Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2005-022A. USAF Sat Cat: 28702. Delayed since 2002; most recently delayed from December 4 and 17, 2004. Communications satellite with Ku-, C- and Ka-band transponders, owned by Intelsat, which had been privatized. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 89.01W drifting at 0.007W degrees per day.

• Inmarsat 4F-2 Nation: USA. Program: Inmarsat. Payload: Inmarsat 4B; Eurostar 3000GM. Mass: 5,958 kg (13,135 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Eurostar 3000. Agency: Inmarsat. Perigee: 35,902 km (22,308 mi). Apogee: 35,965 km (22,347 mi). Inclination: 2.90 deg. Period: 1,443.60 min. COSPAR: 2005-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 28899. The satellite was fitted with a 10 meter diameter antenna for mobile communications. Payload moved from Ariane 5 EC-A. Launch delayed from September, November 4 and 5, 2005. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 52.87W drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.

• Echostar 10 Nation: USA. Program: Echostar. Payload: A2100AX. Mass: 4,333 kg (9,552 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Agency: Echostar. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin. Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-003A. USAF Sat Cat: 28935. Ku-band communications payload; station in geosynchronous orbit at 110.17 deg W. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 110.21W drifting at 0.004W degrees per day.

• JCSAT 9 Nation: Japan. Payload: A2100AX. Mass: 4,401 kg (9,702 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Agency: JSAT. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-010A. USAF Sat Cat: 29045. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 132.01E drifting at 0.014W degrees per day.

• Galaxy 16 Nation: USA. Program: Galaxy. Payload: LS-1300X. Mass: 4,640 kg (10,220 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: PanAmSat. Manufacturer: SS/Loral. Perigee: 6,484 km (4,028 mi). Apogee: 35,646 km (22,149 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 754.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-023A. USAF Sat Cat: 29236. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 98.98W drifting at 0.005W degrees per day.

• Koreasat 5 Nation: Korea South. Payload: Mugunghwa 5, Spacebus 4000C1. Mass: 4,465 kg (9,843 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Spacebus 4000. Agency: KT. Manufacturer: Alcatel Alenia Space. Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min. COSPAR: 2006-034A. USAF Sat Cat: 29349. The satellite will was to provide Ku-band service for Korea Telecom and Ka-band and SHF band transponders for the South Korean Agency for Defense Development. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 113.05E drifting at 0.012W degrees per day.

• XM-Blues Nation: USA. Mass: 6,100 kg (13,400 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: XM Radio. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.09 min. COSPAR: 2006-049A. USAF Sat Cat: 29520. Adds to XM Satellite Radio's constellation of direct-broadcast radio to North America (XM Rock, Roll, and Rhythm launched earlier). As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 115.02W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.

• NSS 8 Nation: Netherlands. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 6,100 kg (13,400 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Agency: New Skies Satellites (International). Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. COSPAR: F20070130. The platform was designed to survive such an explosion, but the flame deflector was blown off and the blast doors unhinged. The launch platform was towed back to Long Beach for repairs. The time required to repair the platform and the investigation to determine and fix the cause would certainly impact the 2007 Zenit-3SL and Zenit-2 launch schedules, probably forcing customers to be diverted to other boosters. NSS-8 was to have been placed at a 57º East orbital position to satisfy demand in the Indian Ocean region with 56 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders. NSS-703, with an expected end-of-life in 2009, would have to continue in service until a replacement was built and launched.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991 (succeeded by 2000 edition). ISBN: 1563473534. Superseded by the later editions. More at amazon.com...

• Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al. ISBN: 0710618107. The most comprehensive source of information for current space projects. Too expensive for human beings and most libraries. More at amazon.com...

• Isakowitz, Steven J, Hopkins, Joshua B, and Hopkins, Joseph P, International Reference to Space Launch Systems, AIAA, Washington DC, 2004. ISBN: 156347591X. The best reference on launch vehicles ever produced. More at amazon.com...