Sea Launch delivers Thuraya-2 satellite to orbit

The flawless mission for Sea Launch also marked the first flight of the 6,000 kg performance Zenit-3SL launch vehicle.

The rocket lifted off at 13:55:59 GMT from the Odyssey Launch Platform positioned on the Equator. Precisely on schedule, the spacecraft separated from the Block DM upper stage at 15:36:18 GMT and was acquired by a ground station in Western Australia at16:02:00 GMT. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight.

"I want to congratulate the Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company on the tremendous success of this mission. I also want to congratulate Boeing Satellite Systems, as well as the entire Sea Launch team ," said Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch.. "We especially appreciate Thuraya's continued trust in our launch services and look forward to a lasting relationship with them in the future. Once again, we have met our commitments to our customer."

Built by Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, California, the 5,177 kg (11,413lb) Thuraya-2 satellite is a GEM series (GEO-mobile) spacecraft will further support Thuraya's regional mobile communications services, including voice, fax and data over Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North and Central Africa and Central and Southern Asia.