According to TASS, citing a source close to the management within the space industry, the Russian side takes out of the US territory vessels that participated in the Sea Launch space project.
The launch platform for rockets Odyssey along with the command ship is now deployed in the port of Long Beach. Before departure from the US territory there will be removed US equipment installed on the platform, which cannot be transferred to other countries under the US law.
The edition’s interlocutor doesn’t consider it crucial, since the most equipment is manufactured in Russia and it can be easily withdrawn. The information doesn’t specify the future of the space launch platform.
The project was initiated in 1995. Actually, 95 percent of the Sea Launch is owned by the Rocket and Space Holding Energia through its subsidiary Energia Overseas Limited. The framework of this project provided for launching near-Earth satellites from the floating launch platform located near the equator. The launch into orbit was to be carried out by carrier rocket Zenit 3SL, which used to be assembled in Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk). In view of well-known reasons the project implementation was suspended. In future, the Russian side intends to use launch vehicles like Angara instead of Ukrainian Zenits.
