The Sea Launch vessels have departed Sea Launch Home Port for the Equator, in preparation for the launch of Telespazio’s SICRAL 1B communication satellite, on April 19. Liftoff is planned for 01:16 am Pacific Time (08:16 GMT), at the opening of a 57-minute launch window.

Upon arrival at the launch site, at 154 degrees West Longitude, the Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown. After ballasting the Odyssey Launch Platform to launch depth, the team will roll out and erect a Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad, execute final tests and then 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 uprange of the platform.

On launch day, the Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 3,038 kg (6,697 lb) SICRAL 1B spacecraft to a high-perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit. Built by Thales Alenia Space for a 12-year design life, the dual-use Italsat 3000 spacecraft includes one EHF/Ka band, three UHF-band and five active SHF-band transponders. Telespazio, a Thales/Finmeccanica company, will use some of the satellite's transmission capacity and will offer communications services to NATO and the European defense market, while meeting evolving requirements of both the Italian defense ministry and NATO. Following the launch, SICRAL 1B will be positioned in its final orbital location at 11.8 degrees East Longitude.