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."

FMI: www.sea-launch.com