Sea Launch Prepares for Next Launch

Sea Launch Co.'s oceangoing rocket platform and command ship are en route to the equatorial Pacific to launch a satellite for Dish Network Corp. Long Beach-based Sea Launch says liftoff of the EchoStar 11 satellite is planned for July 15. The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif., and is designed to last 15 years.

Sea Launch Transitions to New Leadership

The Sea Launch Board of Directors has appointed Kjell Karlsen as President and General Manager. Karlsen replaces Robert A. Peckham, who will be pursuing other opportunities within The Boeing Company. Kjell Karlsen joined the Sea Launch team in 1999, as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He has been overseeing finance, accounting, taxation, contracts, pricing, insurance, customer finance, and enterprise and partner services.

Sea Launch Follows a Unique but Successful Path to Space

Sea Launch engineers say the three-week round-trip journey across the Pacific Ocean is the most rewarding part of their jobs. The cruise is the culmination of nearly two months of work preparing the rocket, payload and launch teams for the mission. Prior to operations at Home Port, about 18 months goes into the planning, flight design and logistics. Visit http://www.spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/echostar11/tour/ to view the article.