This can be explained by the fact that rockets blasting off from the Baikonur space center along the 46th parallel, must change their course, no matter what, so that the launch plane tallies with the equatorial plane; however, such maneuvers consume a lot of fuel, he added. (Kazakhstan leased its Baikonur space center to Russia for a period of 49 years.)
According to the expert, the terrestrial-rotation phenomenon can be used most effectively near the Equator; those space centers, which are located further off, can't completely take advantage of this effect. Zenith rockets lifting off from the equatorial region can orbit 100% greater payloads than from Baikonur. That's why it was decided to set up a floating launch pad and to orbit spacecraft along 152 degrees western longitude, the expert went on to say.
Talking about pre-launch sequences, the expert explained that it took the Odysseus floating platform 11 days to reach the preset launch area. The platform is then filled with water halfway, with workers placing the rocket on the launch pad itself. All pad workers and the platform's crew subsequently leave for the command and vehicle-assembly ship, which is located 5 km from the platform. The rocket is then launched with the help of radio stations, which also control its flight path.
Russian and Ukrainian enterprises have amassed ample experience, while developing and operating relatively inexpensive launch vehicles and rocket complexes; this highly important factor was heeded during the implementation of project Sea Launch, the expert noted.
In his words, the Sea Launch facility makes it possible to orbit geostationary satellites with a mass of up to three tons, also placing satellites with a mass of up to six tons into geostationary transfer orbits, as well as satellites weighing up to 11 tons into low circum-terrestrial orbits with an inclination of up to 90 degrees.
