RUSSIA: AN OIL RIG CONVERTED INTO THE SEA-GOING ROCKET LAUNCHING PAD SETS SAIL FROM VYBORG

Record ID: 344785

  • Title: RUSSIA: AN OIL RIG CONVERTED INTO THE SEA-GOING ROCKET LAUNCHING PAD SETS SAIL FROM VYBORG
  • Date: 21st June 1998
  • Summary: VYBORG, RUSSIA (JUNE 21, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) (NIGHT SHOTS) 1. PAN OF COSMODROME LAUNCH PAD/ OIL RIG 0.10 2. SLV/LV WORKERS PREPARING VESSEL, WELDING (2 SHOTS) 0.21 3. LAS OF TOWER-SECTION OF VESSEL 0.31 4. MCU SEA LAUNCH PROJECT DIRECTOR KRISTE GANZER SAYING THE COOPERATION HAS BEEN GOD, AND EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WORKING TO A COMMON GOAL. BUT THIS IS A VERY TECHNICALLY DEMANDING PROJECT AND HAS DEMANDED A LOT OF COMPROMISE AND DISCUSSIONS TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW. IT IS NOT AN EASY PROJECT. IT IS VERY TECHNICALLY ADVANCED. (ENGLISH) 0.58 5. LAS WORKERS INSPECTING GANTRY SECTION 1.04 6. MCU SHIPYARD PROJECT DIRECTOR RUNG MARTISEN SAYING HE IS REALLY SURPRISED HOW WELL THIS HAS GONE, COOPERATION WITH NORWEGIANS, RUSSIANS AND AMERICANS AND OTHERS, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROJECT, AND HAS A MARINE SYSTEM, A ROCKET SYSTEM AND SO ON (ENGLISH) 1.20 7. LV RADAR SYSTEM AND RUSSIAN AND UNITED STATES FLAGS 1.25 8. SLV OF VESSEL 1.36 9. GV VESSEL BEING TOWED OUT BY TUG BOAT 1.47 10. SV OF VESSEL, WORDS "SEA LAUNCH" WRITTEN ON SIDE 1.53 11. LV OF VESSEL 2.00 12. LV/GV OF VESSEL BEING TOWED OUT OF HARBOUR (2 SHOTS) 2.19 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th July 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VYBORG, RUSSIA
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAE84L01FBWQIASFCAG9BNUBUFX
  • Story Text: An oil rig converted into the world's first sea-going rocket launching pad has set sail from Vyborg in Russia, headed for its home base at Long Beach California in the United States.

    The platform was towed out from its moorings early on Sunday (June 21) morning, shortly after workers had completed some last-minute checks on the vessel.

    Sea Launch is a project 40 percent owned by the U.S.

    company Boeing.The Russian space manufacturer Energiya has a 25 percent stake, Norway's Kvaerner Maritime, a 20 percent interest, and Ukrainian space specialist KB Yuzhnoye/Po Yazhmash the remaining 15 percent.

    The plan is to launch rockets from the rig for commercial satellite clients from a mooring site off Hawaii as early as October.

    The project's organisers hope to benefit from the natural gravitational advantage of such an equatorial location because a rocket fired from such a site can use the Earth's spin to help propel the satellite into orbit.

    The first launch is expected to use a Ukrainian-made Zenith-3sl booster rocket, normally a tested and reliable system.

    The Sea Launch platform is 133 metres long and 67 metres wide, and will be both an assembly plant and launching pad.

    The vessel is is designed to work with a command ship, but will also act as a mission control for operations.

    The project is financed by a consortium of 14 international banks, and is backed by a 200 million U.S.

    dollar guarantee from the World Bank.


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