Sea Launch Zenit 2S Rocket Completes Inspection, Preps for April Launch

Photo: Sea Launch

[Via Satellite 1-07-2014] Sea Launch, through Energia Logistics, has conducted a Hardware Acceptance Review of the Zenit 2S launch vehicle to be utilized in support of Eutelsat’s Eutelsat 3B mission.  A team of specialists from the chief system engineer’s office at Energia Logistics, together with specialists from RSC Energia, reviewed all of the acceptance data for the Zenit 2S #SL 37 vehicle and found that all required acceptance test values were within specification.

The Ocean Force sea-based transport vessel carrying the Zenit 2S launch vehicle designated for Eutelsat 3B departed the port at Oktyabrsky, Ukraine on Dec. 23, 2013 and is scheduled to arrive pier-side at Sea Launch’s home port facility in Long Beach, California on Feb.16, 2014.  The mission’s Block DM SL upper stages and an undesignated mission’s upper stage provided by RSC Energia will also be included in the shipment to home port. The payload accommodations, provided by Boeing, are scheduled to arrive on Feb. 12, 2014. The Eutelsat 3B satellite is planned for launch in April 2014.