Wed, May 21, 2008
Third Successful Launch This Year
Early Wednesday morning, the Sea Launch Company successfully
delivered the Galaxy 18 communications satellite to orbit from its
ocean-based platform on the Equator, marking its third successful
launch in 2008.
A Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 0243 PDT (9:43 GMT) from the
Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude,
precisely on schedule. An hour later, the Block DM-SL upper stage
inserted the 4,642 kg (10,234 lb) Galaxy 18 satellite into
geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital
position at 123 degrees West Longitude.
Operators at the Hartebeesthoek ground station in South Africa
acquired the spacecraft's first signals from orbit shortly after
spacecraft separation. All systems performed nominally throughout
the mission.
"Congratulations to Intelsat on today's successful mission,"
said Rob Peckham, president and general manager of Sea Launch.
"This is our sixth successful launch for Intelsat. We're extremely
proud to be a part of your achievements and we look forward to
launching your next satellite in the near future. This is the
seventh mission with a Loral spacecraft and it's always a pleasure
working with your team. Thanks to everyone involved in today's
accomplishment, especially the people of Sea Launch and our
partners, contractors and families around the world who support
us."
Built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), Galaxy 18 will provide
advanced television, data and telecommunications services to
Intelsat's customers throughout North America, Hawaii, and Puerto
Rico.
"I would like to thank Sea Launch for doing a great job with
today's mission," said Thierry Guillemin, Intelsat's Senior Vice
President and Chief Technical Officer. "I also want to recognize
and thank the teams at Space Systems/Loral and Intelsat for their
continued hard work and dedication. Galaxy 18 is the 42nd satellite
built by Space Systems/Loral for Intelsat. It is joining five other
Galaxy spacecraft with key roles in the North American cable arc,
which deliver some of the most popular programming to millions of
American homes."
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