Trajectory & orbital insertion
Ascent path is a representation — true ascent telemetry isn’t public.
Provider
Sea Launch
Provider type
Commercial
Orbit
Direct-GEO
Mission type
Communications
Launch site
—
Date
Tue, 29 Jun 2004 03:58:59 GMT
Orbital launch #
#4663 ever
Mission
Telstar 18, launched June 28, 2004 aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket, has successfully reached its in-orbit testing position at 142 degrees East longitude. During the satellite's launch, the Zenit rocket's upper stage shut down 54 seconds early and released the satellite into a low orbit. After the launch, engineers at Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) raised the spacecraft to its correct orbit using a series of carefully planned satellite maneuvers and thruster burns.