California-based Sea Launch Co. launches satellite from Kazakhstan

Calif. company launches satellite from Kazakhstan

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The California-based international partnership Sea Launch Co. has successfully launched a satellite for Intelsat customers from its land-launch operation in Kazakhstan.

The rocket lifted off at 1 p.m. PST Monday. Spokeswoman Paula Korn at the company’s Long Beach headquarters says everything performed as planned.

More than six hours after launch, the satellite separated from the upper stage. The first signals from orbit were received a short time later.

It’s the fourth land launch for the company best known for launches from a floating platform on the equator.

The partnership of Boeing and companies in Russia, Ukraine and Norway has filed for bankruptcy reorganization, and Boeing may drop all or most of its ownership.

Korn says a hearing on new financing is due this week in bankruptcy court.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The California-based international partnership Sea Launch Co. has launched a satellite for Intelsat customers from its land-launch operation in Kazakhstan.

The rocket lifted off Monday afternoon. Spokeswoman Paula Korn at the company’s Long Beach headquarters said all was going well.

The launch was scheduled to take more than six hours, with three burns of the rocket’s upper stage. It’s the fourth land launch for Sea Launch, which is best known for launches from a floating platform on the equator.

The partnership of Boeing and companies in Russia, Ukraine and Norway has filed for bankruptcy reorganization, and Boeing may drop all or most of its ownership.

Korn said a hearing on new financing is due this week in bankruptcy court.