[SatNews] The launch will mark The Company’s completion of the world’s first global broadband mobility platform...

The Sea Launch vessels have departed Sea Launch’s Home Port in Long Beach, California, for the equator, in preparation for the launch of the Intelsat 27 satellite. Liftoff is scheduled for 22:56 Pacific Standard Time on January 30, 2013 (06:56 UTC, on January 31st) at the opening of the 58-minute launch window.

Upon their arrival at the launch site at 154 degrees West longitude, the Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown.   After ballasting the launch platform Odyssey to launch depth, the team will roll out and erect a Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad, execute final tests and proceed with fueling operations and launch.

Prior to fueling, all personnel on the launch platform will transfer to the Sea Launch Commander for the duration of the mission. The team monitors both marine and launch operations remotely from the ship, positioned about four miles up range of the platform.

On launch day, the Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 6,215-kilogram (13,702 lbs.) Intelsat 27 spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit.  Based on the Boeing 702MP mid-level power platform, Intelsat 27 is designed to provide 15 or more years of satellite service.

The satellite will support customers in North America, South America, the Atlantic Ocean region and Europe, and will host 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.

Intelsat 27 will be located at the 304.5 degrees East orbital position currently occupied by Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11.

From its ocean-based launch site located directly on the equator at 154 degrees West longitude, a Zenit-3SL launch vehicle will lift the Intelsat 27 spacecraft into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit on its way to its final geostationary orbit at 304.5 degrees East longitude.

After liftoff, the Zenit-3SL rocket will begin its ascent phase of flight, achieving maximum acceleration at 116 seconds into the flight. 

The first stage of the vehicle will separate 2:30 minutes (150 seconds) after liftoff, and the protective payload fairing will be jettisoned 82 seconds later at 3:52 minutes. The second stage will conduct a 6 minute burn, followed by its separation from the Block DM-SL upper stage.  The Block DM-SL will begin its first and only burn at 8:41 minutes (521 seconds) into the mission, for the duration of 699 seconds.  The upper stage will then shut down for an almost 10 minute coast period before spacecraft separation over equatorial South America.