Sea Launch Co. has launched a new satellite for Dish Network Corp.
A rocket carrying the EchoStar 11 satellite lifted off at 10:21 p.m. PDT Tuesday from Long Beach, Calif.-based Sea Launch Co.`s oceangoing rocket platform positioned on the equator in the Pacific Ocean, according to AP.Sea Launch spokeswoman Paula Korn says in a company Webcast that the spacecraft separated from the booster rocket and a ground station outside of Perth, Australia, acquired its first signal 70 minutes later.
"That signals mission success for EchoStar 11," Korn said.
The satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif., and is designed to last 15 years.
It will join Englewood, Colo.-based Dish Network`s fleet serving direct-broadcast satellite TV customers in the U.S.
Sea Launch is owned by the Boeing Co., RSC-Energia of Russia, Aker ASA of Norway and SDO Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine.
