Long Beach, Calif., April 20, 2009 -- Early this morning, the Sea Launch Company successfully launched Telespazio’s SICRAL 1B communications satellite from its equatorial launch site. This event marks Sea Launch’s 30th mission from sea, since operations began in March 1999.
On today’s mission, a Zenit-3SL vehicle lifted off at 1:16 am PDT (08:16 GMT) from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude. Less than two hours later, the Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 3,038 kg (6,697 lb) SICRAL 1B satellite into a high perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit. Telespazio’s operators at the Fucino Space Center in Italy acquired the spacecraft’s first signals from orbit during flight operations and confirmed the health of the spacecraft shortly after its separation from the Block DM upper stage. Based on preliminary data, all Sea Launch system flight parameters were nominal and injection accuracy was excellent.
“We are very excited about today’s launch results,” said Kjell Karlsen, president and general manager of Sea Launch. “Congratulations to Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and to Italy’s Ministry of Defense, which will be using some of the spacecraft’s capacity to support NATO’s European activities. We are proud to be part of Italy’s growing satellite program and we look forward to future opportunities to support its continued success.
“This is our 30th mission from sea -- a milestone that reflects the sustained efforts of the world's most internationally integrated launch team and demonstrates the tremendous feats that can be accomplished through global cooperation, while serving a global market. Congratulations to the Sea Launch partners, contractors and the entire team on this significant milestone and for another launch flawlessly executed.”
Built by Thales Alenia Space, this dual-use Italsat 3000 spacecraft is designed to provide communications services for the Italian Ministry of Defense, NATO and allied nations. The SICRAL 1B payload includes one EHF/Ka band, three UHF-band transponders and five active SHF-band transponders. Designed for a 13-year lifespan as part of a new communications satellite system dedicated to national security, SICRAL IB will be positioned in its final orbital location at 11.8 degrees East Longitude.
About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. Sea Launch also offers Land Launch services for medium weight satellites, originating from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. For more information, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com
Contact: Paula Korn, 562.499.4729 or 562.254.5684 (cell), paula.korn@sea-launch.com |
