Sea Launch sends Italian satellite into orbit

[April 20, 2009]  LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A California-based rocket launching company says it has successfully fired a a communications satellite into orbit for Italy's armed forces and NATO from its launch platform floating in the Pacific.

Sea Launch Co. of Long Beach says in a statement the launch vehicle lifted off at 1:16 a.m. Monday.

The satellite's operator, Rome-based Telespazio, later received transmissions from orbit confirming the spacecraft was functioning.

Sea Launch says the satellite will provide communications services to the Italian Ministry of Defense, NATO and the European defense market.

It is the 30th mission for Sea Launch, a partnership of Boeing Commercial Space Co., RSC-Energia of Russia, and companies from Norway and Ukraine.

[Associated Press]

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