Starting from January 1997 CDB ME “Rubin” participated within the frames of International Project “Sea Launch” in creation of a command-and-assembly vessel and launching platform for a floating space launch base in equatorial waters in the area of Christmas Island (Line Islands).

     The founders of International Project “Sea Launch” are USA, Russia, Ukraine and Norway.

     The enterprise responsibility was to ensure the possibility of using equipment earlier used only for space rocket launching from land-based space launch bases under offshore conditions.

     Within a very short period of time (about 1 year) the enterprise developed workshop drawings for installation and mounting of mechanical and electronic equipment of a rocket segment. Design documents developed by the enterprise were issued in compliance with international requirements and approved by Det Norske Veritas (Norway).

     Over 3,000 tons of equipment were installed on the launch platform and about 1,100 tons in 43 compartments of the command-and-assembly vessel in accordance with the workshop drawings of CDB ME “Rubin” (over 1,500 design documents).

     Tests of a number of systems and machinery for rocket maintenance and launch preparation were prepared and carried out with involvement of specialists of the enterprise.

     In 1999, by the request of RSC “Energia” named after S.P.Korolev, a group of specialists of CDB ME “Rubin” inspected the platform within the frames of the author supervision procedure in the Long Beach Port, California (USA). Specialists analysed the status of equipment and systems of the space launch complex “Sea Launch” after the sea passage from Saint-Petersburg to the port of basing and complex tests of the rocket segment.

     The equipment was found operational.

     Seven commercial launches had been performed for the period of the offshore space launch base operation.

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