Satellite Launched From Ocean Platform

[January 16, 2008]  LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A Boeing-built satellite for mobile voice and data services was placed in orbit Tuesday by a rocket launched from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean.

The 11,381-pound Thuraya-3 satellite took off early Tuesday from a spot on the equator as part of a mission to expand Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co.'s coverage in the Asia Pacific region.

Thuraya CEO Yousuf Al Sayed said in a statement that the launch will allow the company to begin major expansion plans in the first quarter of 2008.

The company, based in the United Arab Emirates and founded in 1997, serves 110 countries.

The launch by Long Beach-based Sea Launch Co. was "perfect," said Sea Launch spokeswoman Paula Korn. Boeing, which built the satellite in El Segundo, Calif., said it was "healthy and operating as designed."

The satellite separated from the booster over the Pacific north of New Zealand and first signals were received by a station in Fillmore, Calif.

Unusually strong currents that affected Sea Launch's oceangoing launch platform foiled the first attempt in November. The self-propelled platform and the command ship had to return to home port in Long Beach, resupply and sail back to the launch site.

The Sea Launch system takes advantage of a principle of physics that allows a rocket launched at the equator to carry a heavier payload into orbit than it could from elsewhere on the Earth's surface.

The mission was the first for the Sea Launch international partnership since an explosion moments after ignition in January 2007 destroyed a satellite intended for Netherlands-based SES New Skies.

An investigation found the blast was caused by debris in turbopump in the rocket's main engine section. Sea Launch has carried out 25 missions since 1999.

Sea Launch is owned by Boeing Co., RSC-Energia of Moscow, Aker ASA of Oslo, Norway, and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.

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On the Net:

http://www.sea-launch.com/

[Associated Press]

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