The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 5, 2008 - The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Sea Launch Home Port for the equatorial Pacific, in preparation for the launch of the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite, planned for Monday, March 17. Liftoff is expected at the opening of a 58-minute launch window, at 3:49 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:49 GMT).

Upon arrival at the launch site at 154 degrees West Longitude, the team will ballast the platform to launch depth and initiate a 72-hour countdown. During this period, they will perform a final series of tests on the launch system and the spacecraft. At launch, a Zenit-3SL vehicle will insert the 5,923 kg (13,058 lb) DIRECTV 11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location of 99.2 degrees West Longitude. Sea Launch will provide live coverage of the DIRECTV 11 mission via satellite and on the company website, beginning at 3:30 pm PDT (22:30 GMT) on March 17.

DIRECTV 11 is one of three recent Boeing 702-model spacecraft built for DIRECTV and is among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites built to date. The on-board technology of this direct-to-home satellite will enable DIRECTV to continue to expand its industry-leading lineup of quality high-definition television (HDTV) programming. DIRECTV 11, combined with the DIRECTV 10 satellite already in orbit, will provide DIRECTV with the capacity for 150 national HD channels and will be capable of supporting spot beams carrying 1,500 local HD channels.

DIRECTV 11 will continue DIRECTV's massive capacity expansion and further strengthen its position as the leading provider of HD programming in the United States. This is the fourth mission Sea Launch will execute for DIRECTV. Previous satellites include Spaceway 1 (April 26, 2005), DIRECTV 7S (May 4, 2004) and DIRECTV 1R (October 9, 1999).

About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. For additional information and images about the DIRECTV 11 mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com



Source: Sea Launch Press Release

The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 14, 2008 - The Sea Launch team has arrived at the launch site on the equator and will initiate a 72-hour countdown today, in preparation for the launch of the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite on Monday, March 17. Liftoff is planned at 3:49 pm PDT (22:39 GMT), at the opening of a 58-minute launch window. All systems are proceeding on schedule.

With operations at the launch site now underway, the marine crew has ballasted the Odyssey Launch Platform to its launch depth for stability. The Sea Launch Commander will be stationed near the Odyssey throughout the weekend, occasionally connected by a link bridge that enables foot traffic between the two vessels.

On the day before launch, the rocket will be rolled out of its environmentally-protected hangar on the platform and automatically erected on the launch pad. Before fueling begins, all personnel will evacuate the platform and transfer to the ship, which will be stationed about four miles uprange, throughout launch operations. At launch, the Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5,923 kg (13,058 lb) DIRECTV 11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location of 99.2 degrees West Longitude.

DIRECTV 11 is one of three recent Boeing 702-model spacecraft built for DIRECTV and is among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites built to date. The on-board technology of this direct-to-home satellite will enable DIRECTV to continue to expand its massive capacity expansion and further strengthen its position as the leading provider of High Definition programming in the United States. This is the fourth satellite Sea Launch will deploy for DIRECTV. Previous satellites include Spaceway 1 (April 26, 2005), DIRECTV 7S (May 4, 2004) and DIRECTV 1R (October 9, 1999).

Sea Launch will provide live coverage of the DIRECTV 11 mission via satellite and on the company website, beginning at 3:30 pm PDT (22:30 GMT) on March 17. The webcast will be posted at: _www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html. Transponder coordinates for the satellite feed are posted at: _www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html.

About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. For additional information and images about the DIRECTV 11 mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com



Source: Sea Launch Press Release

The Sea Launch press release is reproduced below:

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 19, 2008 - Sea Launch Company today successfully delivered the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite to orbit from its ocean-based platform on the Equator, marking its 4th successful launch of a DIRECTV satellite.

A Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 3:48 pm PDT (22:48 GMT) from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude, precisely on schedule. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight. The Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 5,923 kg (13,058 lb) DIRECTV 11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 99.2 degrees West Longitude. Acquisition of the spacecraft’s first signals from orbit is expected in another few hours and will be reported when confirmed.

"I congratulate DIRECTV on today’s successful launch," said Rob Peckham, president and general manager of Sea Launch. "This is our fourth successful launch for DIRECTV and we’re proud to be a part of your achievements. We look forward to future opportunities to contribute to your continued success. This is the 16th Boeing-built spacecraft we’ve launched and, as always, it’s a pleasure working with the Boeing satellite team.

"I also extend our thanks to everyone involved in achieving this successful launch, particularly the people of Sea Launch, and our partners, contractors and families around the world who support us."

DIRECTV 11 is one of three recent Boeing 702-model spacecraft built for DIRECTV and is among the largest and most powerful Ka-band satellites built to date. The on-board technology of this direct-to-home satellite will enable DIRECTV to continue to expand its industry-leading lineup of quality high-definition television (HDTV) programming. DIRECTV 11, combined with the DIRECTV 10 satellite already in orbit, will provide DIRECTV with the capacity for 150 national HD channels and will be capable of supporting spot beams carrying 1,500 local HD channels.

Earlier Sea Launch missions for DIRECTV include Spaceway 1 (April 26, 2005), DIRECTV 7S (May 4, 2004) and DIRECTV 1R (October 9, 1999).

About Sea Launch Company
Sea Launch Company, LLC, headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. For additional information and images about the DIRECTV 11 mission, please visit the Sea Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com



Source: Sea Launch Press Release

Source:Sea Launch