Земля-Космос

Boeing delivers the Thuraya-3 satellite to Sea Launch Home Port in the early morning hours of September 4. Arriving on a specially designed flat-bed truck, the satellite comes directly to the Payload Processing Facility. Over the next few weeks, the spacecraft will be tested, fueled and then encapsulated in a payload fairing, in preparation for integration with a Zenit-3SL rocket.

As the spacecraft is brought inside the Payload Processing Facility, the crew carefully prepares to remove it from its transporter so they may proceed with unwrapping.

The door opens and the Payload Unit is carefully moved onto the transporter and prepared for transit.

Forward of the Payload Unit is the airconditioning unit, connected into the fairing by the orange tube, maintaining the optimal temperature and pressure for the spacecraft environment.

The transfer begins and the Payload Unit slowly makes its way toward the ship, past the warehouse into a parking lot, where the operator of the remotely controlled transporter makes a turn toward the stern ramp of the ship.

The Payload Unit rolls up the ramp and into the assembly hall where it will be integrated with the Zenit-3SL rocket.

The rocket rolls out onto the ship's stern ramp and yellow brackets hanging from cables are attached to the second stage and the base of the first stage

The transfer team leaves the ramp and the crane operation begins, lifting the rocket 200 feet, to the level of the hangar on the launch deck.

The rocket is rolled out of its protective hangar on the transport-erector. With all systems set to go, the automated sequence is signaled and the powerful hydraulic pumps raise the rocket onto the launch pad at the stern of the vessel.

The Odyssey Launch Platform is ready for departure to the launch site and employees gather for coffee and pastries to watch the activity.

The crew of the platform pull up the lines and she's ready to go.

Members of the international team proudly display their country's flags to the tune of traditional departure music on the public address system as the mighty platform moves into the harbor.

The platform swings out of the inner harbor and heads for the launch site, about 2,800 miles southwest of Long Beach, California.

The Sea Launch team gathers on the pier for the departure of the
Sea Launch
Commander. Rob Peckham, president and general manager, and Keith Dayton, vice president, launch operations, make some parting remarks and then take the final readiness poll. Irina Masinovsky translates. And the strong energy of the moment is tangible.

A special gathering of friends and colleagues… From left are Brad Crocker, Thuraya-3 spacecraft manager, Boeing; Craig Peterson, Thuraya-3 mission manager, Sea Launch; Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi, senior manager technology development, Thuraya; and Don Johnson, Thuraya-3 program manager, Boeing.

Rob Peckham boards the ship for his first mission at sea and, with all passengers on board, the crew lifts the gangplank.