OREANDA-NEWS. On July 16, 2008 The Zenit-3SL rocket with a U.S. telecommunications satellite was successfully launched from the sea launch platform in the Pacific Ocean, Yuzhnoye State Design Office reported.

Zenit-3SL rocket is designed by Yuzhnoye State Design Office. The first and second stages were manufactured by production association Yuzhmashzavod in cooperation with Russian and Ukrainian companies. The third stage (booster block DM-SL) was developed and manufactured by Energia Rocket Space Corporation (Russia).

Sea Launch Company was created by Boeing (the United States), Kvaerner ASA (Norway), Energia Rocket Space Corporation (Russia), Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash design offices (Ukraine).