Russian engineers will invent a new carrier rocket to replace Ukraine's Zenit-SL system for launches from the Sea Launch floating space pad.

A new carrier rocket will be developed in Russia to replace Ukraine's Zenit-SL system for launches from the Sea Launch (Morskoi Start) floating space pad, the chief of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC) Energia said Friday.

"There is undoubtedly an idea to create a new launch vehicle for the Sea Launch project, and it would be difficult for the new investor to work on this," General Director Vladimir Solntsev told reporters.

Solntsev forecast earlier in the day the planned sale of the project by early 2017, with Russian investors among the leading candidates.

He expressed hope that Energia would stay involved with Sea Launch after its sale. Financial difficulties forced Kiev to freeze the production of Zenit-3SL launch systems.