Sea Launch completed its third successful satellite launch (out of four attempts) on 28 July with the lofting of the 8,067-pound PanAmSat PAS-9 into orbit. The system (which takes advantage of the Earth's rotation and an equator launch to gain extra lift) will be steadily improved, being capable of lifting 5,700kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit by 2002. The program has promised to launch one satellite every 50 days, and wants to increase this to one every 26 days by having a second complete missile carried on a separate ship and loaded onto the platform after the first is launched.--Stephen V
Cole