• Satellite Delivery to Sea Launch Home Port
• Payload Transfer from Payload Processing to Rocket Integration
• Rocket Transfer from Integration to the Launch Platform
• Rocket Rollout and Erection on the Launch Pad for Final Tests
• Departure of Odyssey Launch Platform
• Departure of Sea Launch Commander
• Arrival at Equatorial Launch Site, Countdown Begins
• Launch of Galaxy 18 Satellite

Sea Launch will carry live coverage of the Galaxy 18 mission via satellite, as well as streaming video on this website. Click here to see the archived video of previous missions.

Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the 1300-series hybrid spacecraft, weighing in at 4,642 kg (10,234 lb), carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, to provide a variety of services in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. An industry leader in power, performance and reliability, SS/L’s 1300 model is a space-proven platform that supports a wide range of satellite services and has an excellent record of reliable operation. Its high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries are designed to provide uninterrupted electrical power. While this spacecraft is designed for a 15-year service life on orbit, Sea Launch’s direct insertion into equatorial orbit is expected to yield additional years of fuel life. Galaxy 18 will be positioned at 123 degrees West Longitude.

Space Systems/Loral is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. Based in Palo Alto, California, the company designs and builds satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the leading provider of high-power commercial satellites, SS/L works closely with satellite operators to deliver spacecraft for a broad range of services including direct-to-home television, digital audio radio, broadband Internet and digital multimedia broadcasting.

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services (FSS) worldwide, delivering advanced transmission access for information and entertainment to many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat also offers seamless service for voice, data and video transmission unmatched in the industry. With the globalization of content, broadband, telecom, HD and IPTV fueling next-generation growth, the ever-expanding universe of satellite services are the cornerstones of today's Intelsat.

From its equatorial launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude, a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will lift the 4,642 kg (10,234 lb) Galaxy 18 spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location at 123 degrees West Longitude. The first stage of the vehicle will separate two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff and the protective payload fairing will jettison 75 seconds later. After operating for six minutes, the second stage will separate from the Block DM upper stage. The Block DM upper stage will then operate for nine-and-a-half minutes. Following a 30-minute coast period, the Block DM will burn a second time for three minutes. After the second burn, and another 10-minute coast, the spacecraft will separate from the upper stage over the west coast of Africa. Ground stations at Hartebeestok in South Africa, and in Fucino, Italy, will be tracking the spacecraft to acquire its first signals soon after spacecraft separation.