Sea Launch Begins Countdown for Intelsat 27 Launch

Sea Launch Begins Countdown for Intelsat 27 Launch

Launch postponed by one day to accommodate NASA mission

Bern, Switerland, Jan. 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The launch of the Intelsat
27 communications satellite has been postponed by one day to Thursday, January
31^st  22:56 Pacific Standard Time (06:56 UTC, on February 1^st) at the
opening of the 58-minute launch window.  The delay is due to a conflict with
NASA resources associated with the use of the Telemetry and Data Relay
Satellite Systems (TDRSS) network used by Sea Launch for in flight telemetry
tracking.  This is due to the rescheduling of the Atlas V / TDRSS-K launch now
set for January 30^th.

The operational flexibility and capability of the Sea Launch system allowed
for the ability to launch one day earlier, on January 29^th - one day sooner
than originally scheduled - but the TDRSS assets were not available for that
date.  This inherent flexibility sets the Zenit-3SL system uniquely apart from
other launch service providers.    

The Sea Launch and Energia Logistics teams have initiated the launch countdown
sequence following arrival at its equatorial launch site on January 26^th at
17:40 PST (01:40 UTC).  Launch operations are now underway at the Equator, at
154 degrees West longitude. The Sea Launch Commander is positioned alongside
the Launch Platform Odyssey, with the two vessels periodically connected by a
link bridge that facilitates foot traffic between the vessels. A day before
liftoff, the Zenit-3SL rocket will be erected on the launch pad for final
tests of the launch system and spacecraft, prior to start of the terminal
countdown.

During final preparations for liftoff, the platform will be evacuated, with
all personnel positioned on the ship, three miles up range from the platform.
At launch, the rocket will lift the 6,215-kilogram (13,702 lbs.) spacecraft to
geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital location at 304.5
degrees East longitude.

Based on the Boeing 702MP platform, Intelsat 27 is designed to provide 15 or
more years of satellite service. The satellite will support media, mobility
and government services for customers in North America, South America, the
Atlantic Ocean region and Europe, and includes  a UHF communications payload
for use in military applications.  The launch will mark Intelsat's completion
of the world's first global broadband mobility platform, which will provide
uninterrupted connectivity to customers at sea, on land and in the air.

Sea Launch will carry live coverage of this mission streaming video on the Sea
Launch website, beginning approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled launch
time, or 22:41 PST (06:41 UTC/GMT, February 1^st). The webcast may be viewed
at: www.sea-launch.com.  Details of the spacecraft, its payload, as well as
the launch vehicle's mission profile, launch timelines, groundtrack, injection
orbit, launch campaign highlights and mission album images can also be found
on the Sea Launch website.

About Sea Launch AG

Sea Launch provides launch solutions to the industry's satellite operator
community based on the Zenit launch system. These services include the
provision of all-inclusive launch services incorporating schedule assurance,
financing, risk management; insurance and creative contracting solutions to
meet the changing demands of the commercial launch market. Sea Launch AG owns
and manages the primary technology, patent and other intellectual property and
tangible assets of the company. These include the Launch Platform Odyssey and
the Sea Launch Commander vessels located in the Home Port facility in Long
Beach, California, and the unique know-how associated with launching
satellites from an ocean-based launch platform located directly on the
equator.  The Sea Launch system offers the most direct and cost-effective
route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites,
providing diversity of supply, affordability and flexibility for the
industry's satellite operators. For more information, please visit the Sea
Launch website at: www.sea-launch.com.

CONTACT: Peter Stier
         +1 562 499 4726
         peter.stier@sea-launch.com

Sea Launch