Transit Day 9 – Final Preps for Launch Site Arrival

Following yesterday’s activities the team was back to work making final plans for arrival to the launch site early Friday morning.  All segments spent the day finalizing their documentation, completing all necessary preparation work required to be done during transit and one of the most challenging tasks working the crew transfer lists.  During transit and prior to ballast down operations there is a limit of 70 persons on the LP.  Once the LP has ballasted down 19 meters, the crew limit may be increased to 95 persons.  As with most of Sea Launch’s operations logistics plays a key role in accommodating every segments work schedules.  Galia Kaplan, ELUS Transportation Coordination Officer (TCO), is responsible for finalizing the list and managing the logistics of the crew transfer. Galia works closely with Jason McLaughlin the Payload Integration Manager (PIM), to ensure that our customer needs are addressed. This is the one true variables between missions.  Each spacecraft’s operations schedule is slightly different and requires us to effectively manage the logistics of crew transfer in order to accommodate the necessary work flows. Galia also works closely with the Rocket Segment management from RSC Energia; Deputy Mission Director (DMD), Igor Bogachev, Rocket Segment Operations Manager (RSOM), Alexy Khvatov, and Operations Team Coordinator, Maxim Gorshkov, as well as the marine crew from both vessels including the ACS Safety officer, Vadym Prokhorenko and LP Safety officer, Cleaton Duguid.  Once the crew transfer lists are completed we know we are ready for launch site operations as this is typically the final piece of documentation that is completed.  Maxim Gorshkov confirmed at the 19:00 MD meeting that all crew transfer lists have been coordinated and agreed too… So we are ready for launch site arrival!

Transit Day 8 – Positively Rememberable Experiences

Most successful companies have an underlying "Mission Statement" that guides their actions on a daily basis.  ELUS is no different as our Mission is:

“To deliver a Reliable, Repeatable and Positively Rememberable launch service, one customer at a time utilizing a lean, efficient, sustainable, and cost effective organization that maximizes profitability for our company” K. D. Pysher

Today’s focus is on ”Positively Rememberable.”  Okay I know there is a debate out there as to whether “Rememberable” is an actual word or not but if I just used “memorable” then I would not have the 3-“R’s” for a successful launch service company… Reliable, Repeatable and positively Rememberable.  Either way the intent is for every person that takes this voyage to the launch site to return home with only positive memories of their experience.  That includes customers, contractors, government personel, and employees or more simply put…Everyone. 

The ELUS Chief Systems Engineer representative for this mission, John Riedman, shares the following positively Rememberable experience:

Birthday on the boat.

After the long day yesterday, today was pretty quiet. This may have been foreshadowed by the spectacular rainbow last night.  I mean there were the typical 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM meetings, but mostly we were just reviewing the results of the rehearsal, making some small tweaks to documentation, and getting ready for launch site operations (still 2 days away.) 

But today is my birthday.  Aww now don’t feel sorry for me.  There are 223 people on this ship.  It is  likely that someone is having a birthday.  My birthday was announced at the very first meeting of the day.  Through-out the day, I was greeted by yells of “Happy Birthday” as well as comments about my green pants.  To make a long story short – Green means Go.  In the in the launch business Go is good.  I have a red uniform but no one wants to see me wear that. J

Some may think that celebrating a birthday far from family and friends is difficult.  My family has been very understanding of the time that launches take me away from them.  I received gifts and cards before I left.  I know they love me where-ever I am.  My son’s card didn’t get finished in time – he wants my wife to send it by mail boat.  An “E-“mail boat will have to do. 

Daddy's little girl...

 

John & the green pants waiting for the mail boat to arrive

  

With e-mail, Facebook, and Google+; I received birthday wishes from my friends and family in Colorado, Hawaii, Texas, Oregon, …  I feel very lucky to have such good communications out here that I can stay in touch so easily, thanks Semco.  I raised an Italian beer and toasted all my friends and family this evening.

Though I’ve previously been misunderstood and so woefully misquoted in the past (see Boeing Employee Times June 2009 re: “smartest guy in the room”);I definitely feel like one of the luckiest people.  I like to take this opportunity to say that I am humbled by the support of my teammates.  Let me give you an example: Suzanne Romero, the Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, colluded with Elvie Lago on the ACS here to stash some Haagen-Daz ice cream and deliver it to me today.  A well appreciated gift in the middle of the tropics.  I am lucky to be able to celebrate my birthday with teammates like these.  With 222 teammates – I wonder whose birthday it is tomorrow?

-John

 

John has been with the Sea Launch program nearly from the beginning and is a valuable asset for me personally and the company as a whole… John is correct that in the launch business “Green” is good and represents “Go”.  But in my opinion, it would be “Good” if the fluorescent green pants that he refers to above would just “Go” if you know what I mean…   Thanks John for sharing your positively rememberable experience.

 

The Catering Team Delivering a Reliable, Repeatable & Positively Rememberable Experience

Most people who work in the satellite and launch service business get extreme reward just from their work.  I think a lot of that comes from the fact that you get to take an idea, put it to paper, turn the paper into hardware and physically deliver it into space.  You get to experience the full lifecycle of the project over a short timeframe and reap in the reward for your endeavors  by witnessing a successful launch. The Eutelsat mission was approximately 12 months of dedicated work between ELUS, Eutelsat, Astrium, Sea Launch and many of our contractors.  Tonight we took time to recognize those folks that have worked closely together to make this mission happen by inviting them to experience a gourmet meal prepared by the ELUS catering team in the VIP dining room.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves as to it being a positively Rememberable Experience…

 

The Table

The Team

The Menu

The Chef - Geir Haugen

The Soup

The Prep Line - Howell Bagabaldo & Michael Cabal

The Sweet Green Asparagus

The 1st Cook - Peter Navarro

The Surf & Turf Main Course

The Baker - Celestino Buladaco Jr.

The Kitchens version of  "Main Engine Ignition"

The Dessert

The ACS Iron Chefs: Ronwald Christian David, Howell Bagabaldo, Peter Navarro,

and Celestino Buladaco Jr.

The Catering Team - Bunny Oeseo, Ove Rosenberg, Ediezen Ortiz and Marcelo Montero

 

The ACS Catering Team delivers a positively Rememberable dining experience... Do you agree?  Lets us know by sharing a comment below...Thank You!

Transit Day 7 – Rehearsal 3 Day

Wow that was a long day!  The day started off with the third and final launch rehearsal for the Eutelsat mission.  This rehearsal is as close as it gets to the actual launch day without actually filling the rocket with propellants and igniting the engine.  All segments across the globe support this rehearsal including RSC Energia’s Moscow Control Center (MCC) in Russia, SDO Yuzhnoye’s launch control center in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Eutelsat’s spacecraft operations center in France, NASA’s Goddard and White Sands TDRSS network, U.S. Air Force Space Command, Boeing Seattle Operations Center, Brewster Ground Station in Washington State, Sea Launch Home Port in Long Beach, California, and of course the ACS and LP.  This truly is the epitome of Global Operations.

On console time was 0615 in the morning requiring most people to be up at 0500 in order to get ready, eat breakfast and report to their respective stations.  The rehearsal starts at L-6 hours and concludes with simulated spacecraft separation at 13:50 in the afternoon.  An interesting fact is that the ACS and LP do not change the clocks as we transit through two time zones with the launch site located in the same time zone as Honolulu, Hawaii.  But as the old saying goes you cannot fool “Mother Nature” and likewise you cannot fool your “Body Clock” it knows that it is really 3AM in the morning…!!!  Now keep in mind that our Russian colleagues in Moscow are 11 hours ahead of us so they are on console at 1700 and finishing up at 0100 the following day.  A significant amount of logistics goes into planning the support for a global operation such as Sea Launch and nobody does it better.  

Today’s launch rehearsal went off without any issues.  All segments and systems performed flawlessly especially the marine crew who not only were participating in the rehearsal but were also sailing the ships and had to make a small deviation for a cargo ship that was crossing in front of us.  Not often that we see other vessels out here so when we do it creates a bit of excitement.  

Following the rehearsal, the launch team returned their systems to the initial state and began reviewing the data that they captured during the rehearsal to evaluate performance of their teams and systems.  The final task for the day is the 1900 Mission Directors meeting where Dr. Valery Aliev and the launch managers meet to discuss the day’s activities and launch rehearsal performance. All segments reported satisfactory results and all planned rehearsal objectives were completed without issues.   The launch team continues to fine tune the schedules for launch site operations and continuously work together to ensure that upon arrival at the launch site all operations will be conducted in an efficient and effective manner. 

The ELUS Photo Optics team, Larry Trotter and Scott Crozier, captured some great shots of the ACS and LP in motion yesterday as Evergreen Helicopter pilot Ryan Lehman maneuvered them into the perfect position using the Jet Ranger which is one of two helicopters on board the ACS. 

 

Larry Trotter on the other end of the camera lens for a change...

Scott Crozier on his first mission is already proving to be a valuable asset...

Ryan Lehman one of Evergreens finest helicopter pilots

The sister ships in perfect formation...

The ACS sleek and noble...

The LP leaving a glowing wake behind her...

 

 

I am sure that many of you reading the daily posts may have questions and/or comments.  Please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question in the comments section below and we will do our best to respond to all...  Thanks for reading...

 

Kirk

 

Transit Day 6 – Rendezvous Day

Today is a significant milestone in the voyage to the launch site as the ACS rendezvoused with the Launch Platform last night at 23:40.  Captain Lars navigated the ACS to alongside the LP just off the starboard beam at 3.7 nautical miles.  Now if you are anything like me I always get confused between starboard and port so the LP is off of the right hand side of the ACS as you look forward and Port is that sweet after dinner drink but that is a different blog.  The ACS and LP will now transit together to the launch site with an expected arrival of 30 November early morning.

Launch Platform Comfortably Off the Starboard Beam

Launch Platform in the Morning Sun

 

The launch team goes into full gear on rendezvous day with the SEMCO Communications team led by Steen Nielsen setting up the communications links between the ACS and LP.  There will be more about the SEMCO team at a later date but these guys are top notch performers and a key aspect to our success. With the communications links established the Astrium spacecraft team was able to remotely perform health checks and spacecraft battery charging from the ACS.

Now that the ACS and LP are in close proximity it is time to spin up the helicopter team (no pun intended) and start training flights.  Evergreen Helicopters Inc. supplies us with top notch helicopter pilots who know how to get the job done.  Landing a helicopter on solid ground is hard enough imagine if the ground is moving up and down and side to side…these guys make it look easy.  The helicopter pilots led by Nick Clarno performed multiple training flights between the ACS and LP to get reacquainted with the helo pads on both vessels and to train with the marine crew that support helo operations.  It was a busy day for the pilots as they performed proficiency flights and a photo optics flight to capture some aerial photos and videos of the vessels in motion and were lucky enough to capture a pod of Dolphins playing between the two vessels.  A long day of flying but all objectives were met without issue.

Helicopter Returning from the Launch Platform in the Background

Helicopter Landing Gently on the Launch Platform

Helicopter Coming in for a Landing on The ACS

 

Dolphin Pod courtesy of Photo Optics Specialists Larry Trotter & Scott Crozier

Dolphin Pod courtesy of Photo Optics Specialists Larry Trotter & Scott Crozier

 

The rest of the launch crew spent the day preparing for the third and final rehearsal planned for tomorrow morning.  Making sure that all the documentation is in order, systems are ready and the remote sites are prepared to support. 

Both vessels are now in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is a band of clouds that circle the globe near the equator as the tradewinds from the northern hemisphere meet those from the southern.  It is also sometimes referred to as the “Doldrums” because of its erratic weather patterns in that it is either extremely calm or violent thunderstorms.  Either way it presents us with some interesting weather as you can see from the sunset photo below.

 

The Launch Platform about to be engulfed by the ITCZ

 

Transit Day 5 - Rest Day

Sunday is a rest day for the ELUS team.  There are no planned operations or meetings for the team today.  The Astrium spacecraft team on board the LP will power up the spacecraft and charge the batteries and that is basically it for the day.  Most people will spend the day relaxing in their cabins, offices, reading lounge, ACS bar and cinema.  The ACS will rendezvous with the LP around midnight today and operations will start back up in the morning.   Time to relax, see you tomorrow...

Transit Day 4 – Meetings & Customer Welcome Dinner

For most, Saturday is the start of the weekend but for the ELUS launch team at sea it is a work day packed full of meetings and training.  The day as always starts with the Mission Directors 0830 status meeting to review the current system status and planned work.  All segments attend the meeting and provide reports including a daily weather report from the onboard weather specialist Mike Patnoe.  Mike is garnering a lot of attention as we are keeping a watchful eye on the Launch Platform transit speed.  The Launch Platform (LP) speed is the driving factor for determining the date and time for launch site arrival.  And as one can imagine the  weather specifically wind and waves play a critical role in the speed of the LP.  The LP is a massive structure with ~200ft (60m) above the waterline making for a large sail to catch winds from any direction.  Today is a good day with the LP traveling at 10 knots and with compliments of Mr. Patnoe a nice tailwind of ~22 knots.  The launch team will continue to monitor the LP speed and weather closely over the next few days to nail down the expected arrival time to the launch site.

There are an additional 8 meetings on the calendar for the remainder of the day including training for those launch team members that will be transferring between the ACS and LP once we are at the launch site.  Crew transfers occur via two methods: Link Bridge and Helicopter.  Both of these methods have manageable but inherent risks associated with them that require training to mitigate those risks.  Even the most seasoned veterans of Sea Launch need to be reminded of the safety procedures so this is required training for every mission. Galia Kaplan, Transportation Coordinator & Security, performs the trainings along with the ACS Safety officer.  With our international launch team this means that the training is conducted in Russian and English with the help of one of our superb onboard translators, Sasha Trushkin.

Another significant meeting was the integrated Rehearsal 2 debrief led by the Mission Director Dr. Valery Aliev.  All segments including the customer participated in the meeting where each of the simulated anomalies was discussed individually.  The MD reviews the objective of the anomaly, the execution of the launch team in handling the anomaly and any lessons learned that can be garnered from the team that will in the event of an actual anomaly improve the response.  This is a prime example of one of our closed looped processes that captures lessons learned and incorporates them into the operational documentation for the next time providing for a continuous learning process.  Overall the MD was pleased with the performance of the launch team during Rehearsal 2 and there were a few lessons learned that will be incorporated in time for Rehearsal 3 in a few days.

From a social perspective today is the first VIP dinner to welcome our customer  Eutelsat and the spacecraft manufacturer Astrium.  This is a small gathering of the leadership from all segments in the VIP dining room located on the 3^rd Bridge deck.  It is another opportunity for our Chef to present his skills in preparing a spectacular four course meal.  Eighteen representatives from Eutelsat, Astrium, ELUS, RSC Energia, Yuzhnoye, Yuzhmash, TsENKi, Boeing and the ACS Captain, Lars Haheim were all present.  The Chief Catering Officer Ove Rosenberg presented the menu and wine list to the attendees just prior to the first course being served.  Overall the evening was a big success with a very relaxed atmosphere and many tall tales of previous adventures on board the Sea Launch Commander being told.  For me personally the hit of the evening was the dessert course, Baked Alaska, awesome!

 

Invitation & Dinner Menu

 

VIP Dinner Table with Mission Director Dr. Valery Aliev at the Head

 

Lance Neal, Boeing Payload Ops Manager and Kirk Pysher, ELUS COO

 

The Main Course of Roast Duck Breast & Applesauce Muscadet filled Crepe

 

Final Course - Perfectly Styled Baked Alaska

 

Very Tasty!!!!

 

Transit Day 3 – Rehearsal 2 Day

With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us the launch team gets down to serious work.  Today is the second of three planned launch rehearsals in support of the Eutelsat 70B mission.  The launch team will assemble in the Launch Control Center (LCC) and various other workstations on the ACS at 0730 for communication checks. As I described in my prior post, the launch rehearsal process is a necessary part of managing the risks associated with the complex task of “successfully” sending a projectile through the earth’s atmosphere into space and “successfully” delivering our customers spacecraft into its intended orbit.  The launch rehearsal process allows us to practice those items that we have control of because once the main engine ignites and the clamps holding the one million pound Zenit 3SL rocket down to the launch pad release we have no more control, it is just between the environment and the machine from there on. 

Rehearsal #2 is where a number of simulated anomalies are introduced at various times throughout the 3+ hour rehearsal to test the skills of the entire launch team on their ability to effectively and efficiently resolve the problem and continue with the countdown.  No member of the launch team is exempt from the process including the Mission Director (MD).  Today’s rehearsal included approximately 8 simulated anomalies that required multiple functions/teams to resolve and work through. There are situations where an issue can be isolated to one function or team but in most instances it requires an integrated team approach  to resolve.  Teamwork along with open communication are key to successfully completing any aspect of the launch process from prelaunch planning through post launch reporting.  No one function/team can do it all.

Today the team performed flawlessly in dealing with the complex anomalies presented during the rehearsal.  There were no issues and the rehearsal completed around 1130.  The teams then prepared for individual team rehearsal debrief meetings to be held in the afternoon.  An integrated team debrief meeting will be held the following day.

From a social perspective, the teams are settled in and many have their routines in place which include daily workouts in the gym and movies in the cinema as well as social gatherings in the ACS bar .  Yes there is a bar onboard however as you can imagine there are strict guidelines relative to its operation.  For instance the bar is never open the night prior to a rehearsal or anytime once we are at the launch site.  It is primarily open only during transit to and from the launch site under the watchful eye of the Captain and Mission Director so as to not interfere with required operations. More to come on these later…

Transit Day 2 - Thanksgiving Day

This is a work day for the team albeit a light day given the Holiday but still a work day.  The team continues to settle into their offices and digest the daily schedule of events/meetings/operations etc.  Each day starts out with the 0830 Mission Director (MD) meeting to discuss the day’s activities and any other significant business. Not everyone participates in the morning MD meeting it is basically for the management team to report status and receive direction on the planned days activities.  

The remainder of the day is spent preparing for launch rehearsal #2 to be held the following day.  The team prepares their launch documentation and reviews the rehearsal information sheet.  For those segments that get to practice anomalies the sometimes borderline devious strategizing begins to challenge their respective teammates on their ability to effectively and efficiently work through problems.  The Prime target for this devious behavior “newbies.”  Some may liken this to an initiation process into a fraternal order but it is a necessary process to stress them to the maximum and test their skills under the watchful eye of a qualified and certified trainer. But at the same time we can have a little fun with them as well.  The other prime target are those veterans that are not expecting to be challenged, typically not as fun to watch as the newbies as they tend to maneuver flawlessly through the simulated anomaly but every once in a while you can catch them off-guard.  All in good fun but a very necessary part of ensuring we are prepared for any situation.

Now to the good stuff… Thanksgiving day feast! Kudos to our Norwegian colleagues as they made every effort to recreate a traditional Thanksgiving day feast for all onboard.  This is one of those experiences that bridges cultures as most of the people onboard have not experienced a traditional Thanksgiving day feast let alone prepared one. To be honest I was truly skeptical of what our Norwegian chef was going to come up with while simultaneously anticipating the traditional Turkey, stuffing, yes stuffing not dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy and of course Pumpkin pie.  As most of us have noticed after many meals in the dining hall onboard the ACS our Norwegian friends enjoy food products in tubes, yes tubes much like a tube of toothpaste except it may have some form of processed fish coming out the end instead of a minty fresh sparkling tooth whitening product.  Given this insight into Norwegian culture one could only imagine the possibilities of any one of those expected traditional thanksgiving fare showing up on the table in the form of a tube.  Think about it for a minute, with the exception of the turkey each of the other traditional sides could practically fit into a tube. 

Decorating the Dining Hall to get that fall feeling

 

Finally at 17:30 we made our way up to the dining hall located on the 3^rd Bridge Deck only to find a line in front of us producing at least a 10-15 minute wait.  Seems even our foreign colleagues were enticed by the sweet aroma of a freshly roasted turkey. My first glimpse of the buffet line showed a golden brown turkey being freshly carved and paired with little mounds of dressing, mashed potatoes, freshly made gravy, cranberry sauce, fresh baked bread & cornbread, and low and behold Pumpkin pie.  Plates were piled full and people were coming back for seconds. Chef Haugen hands down outdid himself!  He was able to recreate a Thanksgiving day meal that triggered memories of many of my family shared meals. In doing so he also shared the experience with our foreign colleagues bridging cultures one meal at a time.

Front of the line waiting for the Turkey to show up!

Transit Day 1 - ACS Departure

Departure day is always one of mixed emotions especially when you are going to be gone over a big holiday. The excitement to get underway for what I would argue is the sexiest launch service operation in the world was overshadowed by the fact that it was 1 day prior to the feast of all feasts in an American home, Thanksgiving! Nonetheless, 220+ Americans, Russians, Ukrainians, Norwegians, Filipinos, Danes, and our French customer proudly walked onboard the Command ship following the usual pier side speeches and Mission Director led departure readiness poll and settled in for a voyage to our equatorial launch site at 154 degrees west.  The fact of the matter is that there are only a handful of people across the globe that have had the opportunity to experience this technical marvel that melds some of the world’s best aerospace contractors with the expertise of the Norwegian designed and operated Assembly and Command ship and Launch Platform.  Anyone who has had the opportunity to tour our facility or has had one of the many informational briefings provided describing the operation and international participation is truly in awe.  Perhaps the second most asked question right after the “Is there anyone on the Launch Platform during a launch?” is “How long does it take and what do you do every day?”  This blog will attempt to chronicle daily life onboard the Assembly and Command Ship (ACS) as we transit to the launch site, launch and return home. 

Astrium Team Departure Photo

Departing the Home Port Pier

 

It is my first attempt at “blogging” so I apologize in advance for any faux pas that I may make and as far as grammar goes…I am an Engineer enough said.  So much for the background now let’s get on with the blog.

Me with the Eutelsat Customer looking out over the Port of Long Beach

RF Technician Extraordinaire Bob Roggendorf bidding farewell to Home Port

Day 1 is the get acquainted day in my view. 

1.       We get acquainted with the multi-national launch team consisting of over 7 different cultures

2.       We get acquainted with a new set of legs, since the ones used on land do not seem to work the same way on a ship, rubber comes to mind. 

3.       We get acquainted with the dining hall and what seems to be a never ending supply of everything you promised yourself you were not going to eat on this voyage. Your will power is at its best on day 1 but will be tested regularly.  You can always tell a newbie by the pile of food on his plate.

4.       We get acquainted with our life vest and life boat as we practice evacuation drills in the event of an emergency.   See #1 above and then imagine how snuggly they are able to fit sardines into a can, it is not a pleasant feeling but thankfully is short lived. 

Everyone at their Muster Station practicing safety drills

 

More practice entering the life boat in a nice orderly fashion

 

Keeping our customer smiling even when wedged into the life boat!

 

5.       We get acquainted with our new bruise’s (see #2).  King Neptune is treating us to 4 meter (12 feet) swells on this voyage so we are bumping into everything.

Finally everything and everyone begins to settle in and by the end of the night you are typically exhausted and ready to be rolled to sleep by the not so gentle swells.  Some may take advantage of a small social gathering in the ACS bar but typically most settle into their bunks.