Technical Data – Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform
Type: Semi-submersible mobile launch platform
Gross-Tonnage: 120,000 BRZ
Length: 198 m
Beam: 87 m
Draught: max. 27.5 m
Propulsion: IEP, 45,000 kW total
Speed: 10 knots
Crew: 70
Equipment:Blast deflectors, DGPS, hangar for rockets,
Aviation facilities:
Remote launch controls via Laige Network, crane,
2 dinghiesHelicopter flight deck with
outdoor maintenance facilities
The core and pride of the design is the capability to lift and place rockets, at sea, from the assembly bay on the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander onto the Rocket Deck thanks to a crane capable of lifting 7000 tons at once over a distance of 140 metres, capable of rotating 360 degrees. This crane also ensures, that the Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform can be used for different purposes as well, for example as a Deepwater Construction Vessel. For storage and last checks of the rockets in question, a hangar is erected on the deck, accessible for the rocket with the help of a launch vehicle.
Once the rocket is loaded onto the platform and the ideal position for the launch reached, the ballast tanks are filled with up to 84,000 m³ of water rushing into the forty tanks, while, for a quicker fixation on one position, 14 additional tanks can be filled with up to 26,000 m³ of water. This increases the draught during normal transfer's 10.5 metres to 27.5 metres, which makes the vessel stand calmly even in rough sea.
Moved by ten propellers in gondolas, all capable of being controlled individually with highest precision, the Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform can move at a speed of ten knots. They are diesel-electrical in nature, the power provided by the diesel engines also used to power the other systems of the vessel.
The Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform is equipped with a Differential Global Positioning System and a system for dynamic positioning, which allows for holding position with utmost precision, either automatically or controlled by hand, while the responsible computer systems are double redundant. This works either with help of the sixteen anchors or without.
Before ignition of the rocket, the blast shields are raised and the whole vessel vacated by the crew for security reasons, all functions can be taken over by the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander via Laige Network. The blast shields protect the superstructure of the platform and redirect the launch fire of the rocket into the sea, behind the vessel, akin to a fire trench on dry shore.
Once the rocket is launched, the crew can go back onto the vessel and prepare it for the next launch. This can be achieved by either helicopter, a flight deck with outdoor maintenance facilities is installed on the rocket hangar, or via dinghies, two of which will be provided.
The Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform carries the provisions to house her 70 men strong crew and a few additional passengers relatively comfortably.
Technical Data – Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander
Type: Sea Launch Commander
Gross-Tonnage: 40,000 BRZ
Length: 199 m
Beam: 32.26 m
Draught: 12.8 m (max.)
Propulsion: nuclear reactor
Speed: 24 knots maximum
Crew: 200 people
Equipment:Assembly Bay, clean room,
Sensors, navigation and processing systems:
command centre, observation deckNavigation radar,
Aviation facilities:
Air Surveillance Radar Array,
Laige Network,
Type 901 DatalinkHelipad
While the shape of the hull is the same, the interior differs very much: Powered by a nuclear reactor, a Ga-17 providing 100 MW, the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander is equipped with the most modern command and control facilities available to the civilian market, including a distant cousin of the Artio Battlescape Network, the Laige Network, and the Type 901 Datalink, the civilian cousin of the Type 900 Datalink, which has proven its worth on many vessels, including the Caorthann-class Polar Research Vessel.
The Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander is equipped with an extensive radar suite, namely a Nuacht N-4 Navigation Radar and a Nuacht N-22 Mark IV Air Surveillance Radar Array, a 3D Air Search Radar Array, a civilian version of the N-22 Mark III as it is used onboard of the Goliath-class Destroyer. With its four arrays, the S-band radar can track up to 500 targets at a range of 400 nautical miles or 740.8 kilometres or up into lower orbit. Additionally, the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander carries a GPS-system.
All of these systems connect to the Command Room on the superstructure aft and the Reserve Command Room near the bow, the Command Room being the primary facility to command and control the rocket launch. Much of its arrangement and layout is a reminder of the Glorium-class Command Ship. Above that 'brain' of the whole arrangement is the observation deck, build and equipped for people to watch a launch in a civilized atmosphere with refreshments. Underneath said brain are the quarters for the crew and eventual passengers of the vessel.
On the roof of the superstructure, a helipad for large helicopters is placed, also rated for vectored thrust VTOLs and equipped for refuelling and basic maintenance, but not much more as the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander is not equipped with a hangar.
While the Command room is the 'brain' of the Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander, though, the 'heart' is in the hull, where the cargo would be with a normal Pattern 253. In a way, the assembly bay in the hull, spanning nearly all of it, transports a cargo as well, but the rocket to be launched. Spanning 130 metres in length, with 115 metres being usable for the rocket itself due to the assembly bay doors on the roof being 115 metres in length, it can be used for storage and final assembly of the rocket to be launched, precision engineering sections being included as well as three clean rooms of different sizes, either to be equipped as Laminar Flow Cleanrooms or Turbulent Cleanrooms, depending on the preference of the orderer.
For lifting the assembled rocket out of the bay, a second vessel with a crane is required, as is for loading the bay with the parts to be assembled. The Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform and her large crane would be an option, but basically any crane should work.
History
Since the Dawn of Mankind, Humanity looked up to the stars and wondered – until, over the course of the 20th century, people were launched into space for different purposes of varying degree of importance.
With the commercial usage of space getting more and more common, the nations and companies of the world started to search for a cheaper solution, from reusable space vehicles to launching at sea, which has a multitude of advantages over classical launches on dry shore, one outstanding above the rest: Due to the mobility of a mobile launch platform, an ideal position can be chosen, which reduces fuel consumption of the rocket and increases payload, making it cheaper to launch heavier payloads into orbit.
The pair of Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander and Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform is based on two requests for prototype development by the Avalon Astronautics Alliance, a valued partner of SDY ever since the development and launch of the satellites for the Artio Battlescape Network.
Construction took a while due to the challenge it posed, the chief engineer of Yard 15 gleefully accepting it.
Notable Launches
- Your commercial could be written here!
Pricing
One Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander and one Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform: 1 billion NSD (all discounts already applied).
- One Cosmos-class Sea Launch Commander: 600 million NSD.
One Odyssey-class Sea Launch Platform: 500 million NSD.
Interested in ordering?
Please go to our Main Page and use the Ordering Forms.