Posted: Tue, Dec 4, 2012, 6:55 AM ET (1155 GMT)
A Zenit-3SL rocket successfully placed a communications satelite into orbit for Eutelsat on Monday. The Zenit-3SL, operated by Sea Launch, lifted off from its floating launch platform on the Equator in the Pacific Ocean at 3:44 pm EST (2044 GMT), and released the Eutelsat-70B satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit 66 minutes later. The satellite, built by EADS Astrium, weighed 5,210 kilograms at launch, and carries a payload of 48 Ku-band transponders. Eutelsat will operate the spacecraft at 70.5 degrees east in GEO, providing communications services from Europe to Australia. The launch was the third for Sea Launch this year.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  Flight International article
•  Eutelsat press release
•  Sea Launch press release