Sea Launch has announced series of cost-reduction measures designed to address an upcoming gap in the launch manifest of the Zenit-3SL system. The cost reduction measures include staff reductions at Sea Launch’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland and its prime contractor, Energia Logistics, Ltd., located in Long Beach, California, as well as a reduction of operating expenses associated with laying-up the Sea Launch Commander ship and the Odyssey converted oil rig launch pad.
Zenit 3-SL rocket on Sea Launch’s Odyssey platform. Courtesy: Sea Launch
Sea Launch reports that it will be using this time to improve certain operational efficiencies, upgrade its launch and support systems including evaluating shore-based power for the vessels while in port and finalize internal trade studies relative to available vehicle configuration changes.According to plan, it is expected that Sea Launch will resume and start stepping-up its launch activity during mid-2015/mid-2016 time frame.
