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- About the Story
- A Long Beach, Calif., company has found a new use for an old oil platform—a launch pad for commercial satellites. But can an upcoming launch redeem Sea Launch from an earlier fiery disaster? Roger Cooper takes a look at this fascinating and expensive enterprise. (TRT: 8:31)

- Bad Astronomy’s “Breaking News: Sea Launch Rocket Explodes on Pad!” Blog
- Boeing
- Dethroner’s “Exclusive: Sea Launch Odyssey Returns Home” Blog
- Energia
- The International Space Fellowship’s “Sea Launch Vessels Awarded Port of Long Beach Green Flags” Article
- Popular Mechanics’ “Satellite-Strapped Rocket Explodes on Platform (Video)” Blog
- Satellite Radio Blog Aggregator’s Sea Launch Articles
- Satellite TODAY’s “Rob Peckham, CEO, Sea Launch” Interview
- Sea Launch
- Sea Launch’s November 13, 2007, Launch Webcast
- Spaceflight Now’s “Sea Launch Rocket Explodes on Pad” Article
- Wikipedia’s “Sea Launch” Article
- YAHOO! Finance’s “Sea Launch Prepares for Its 25th Mission—Launch of Thuraya-3” Article
- Tags: Environment, Long Beach, Science & Technology, Transportation
Launching Satellites From the Sea
Last updated: May 13, 2008
Reporter's NOTES
Roger Cooper
It’s just not the kind of thing you expect to encounter in one of the world’s busiest shipping ports. But there it is, tied up at one of the docks beside all the container ships in Long Beach Harbor—a giant, 20-story-tall rocket-launching platform.
Sea Launch is a private company that people pay to put their communications satellites into orbit. And, right now, this unique floating launch pad is far out in the Pacific at the equator—preparing for its latest launch. We got the chance to visit this facility that few people ever hear about and see how they’ve made one of the roads to space lead through Long Beach, Calif.
We invite you to tell us your thoughts about this issue.

