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 2:43am
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.”
