OREANDA-NEWS. July 18, 2008. Another two launches are planned to be conducted by the end of the year within the Sea Launch program, Yuzhnoye State Design Office reported.

The first one is expected in autumn.

As reported, the Ukraine-Russia launch vehicle Zenit-3SL has today successfully orbited the US telecommunication satellite EchoStarXI. All the missile's systems operated normally. A land-based station in Australia received a signal from the space vehicle right after it has separated.

This was the fourth launch in frames of the Sea Launch program in 2008 and 28th from start of its implementation.

Sea Launch Company was created by Boeing (USA), Kvaerner ASA (Norway), RSC Energia (Russia), Yuzhnoye SDO/ Southern Machine-Building Plant (Ukraine).