Long Beach Firm Launches TV Satellite
A rocket carrying a 9,500-pound TV satellite successfully lifted off from a floating launch pad in the equatorial Pacific, the first of six rockets Long Beach-based Sea Launch Corp. expects to launch this year.
The unusual rocket venture, owned by Boeing Co. and a consortium of Russian, Ukrainian and Norwegian companies, expects to have its busiest year after suffering from a downturn in rocket demand in the last decade. The satellite for EchoStar Communications Corp., owner of the Dish TV network, was placed in orbit about 22,200 miles above Earth.
The rocket launch was originally scheduled for Feb. 8, but was postponed twice because of problems with the ground support systems.
-- Peter Pae
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