Boeing

Countdown Continues for Galaxy IIIC Launch Today

The Sea Launch team is counting down to liftoff at 3:39:30 p.m. PDT (10:39:30 p.m. GMT) today of PanAmSat's Galaxy IIIC mission, from the launch site at the Equator, 154 degrees West Longitude. All systems are operating nominally and weather conditions are within launch criteria.

The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket will lift the 10,692 lb. (4850 kg) Galaxy IIIC spacecraft to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit for PanAmSat Corporation [NASDAQ: SPOT]. In its final orbital position, the satellite will be stationed at 95 degrees West Longitude, in Geostationary Orbit. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems for a 15-year lifespan, the 702 model Galaxy IIIC spacecraft will provide Internet, video, audio and data services to areas of the United States and Latin America. This is the eighth Boeing-built spacecraft to launch on a Sea Launch rocket.

Transmission of today's live satellite feed will open with bars and tone at 2:30 p.m. PDT. The launch program will begin at 3:20 p.m. PDT and will continue until approximately 5:15 p.m. PDT. The launch window is 44 minutes long. The program, featuring live video from the Equator as well as commentary and interviews, may be downlinked from the following transponders:

  • United States -- Galaxy-3 Ku band/18 Analogue, 12050.0 -- Horizontal
  • Europe/Latin America -- PAS-9/8C band Digital MCPC, 3840.0 -- Horizontal, Symbol Rate -- 27.69, FEC 7/8, Virtual Channel -- 7, Network ID -- 5002
  • Asia Pacific -- PAS-2/8C band Digital MCPC, 3901.0 -- Horizontal, Symbol Rate -- 30.8, FEC 3/4, Virtual Channel -- 4, Network ID -- 1

Information about Sea Launch, as well as mission specific data and images are provided at the Sea Launch web site. Members of the print and broadcast media seeking information and high-resolution images are directed to a media-specific site.

Sea Launch Company, LLC, based in Long Beach, Calif., provides reliable, cost effective, heavy lift launch services for commercial satellite customers. The international partnership includes Boeing (U.S.), Kvaerner (Norway), RSC Energia (Russia) and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash (Ukraine). The world's only system launching from the Equator, Sea Launch offers the optimal starting point for commercial spacecraft heading to Geostationary Orbit.

HOT LINE for the media: 562.797.1000

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For further information:
Paula Korn
562.499.4729
paula.korn@sea-launch.com
Dan Beck
On the afternoon of Launch Day only: 562.951.7388 or 562.951.7038