LIVE COVERAGE: SECOND ATTEMPT Sea Launch DIRECTV 11 Launch (updated 23:49 GMT)

23:49 GMT (7:49 pm EDT): The successful separation of DIRECTV 11 ends this Sea Launch mission.

23:38 GMT (7:38 pm EDT): Successful shutdown of the Block DM. The next and final event will be the spacecraft separation in about 11 minutes.

23:31 GMT (7:31 pm EDT): Second ignition of the Block DM. This burn will last about 7:05 minutes.

23:01 GMT (7:01 pm EDT): End of the Block DM first burn. The upper stage with the attached DIRECTV 11 satellite will now enter a coast phase of about 30 minutes.

22:56 GMT (6:56 pm EDT): Shutdown of the second stage and ignition of the Block DM third stage.

22:52 GMT (6:52 pm EDT): The payload fairing has been jettisoned at about 120 km altitude.

22:50 GMT (6:50 pm EDT): First stage shutdown and stage seperation. Successful ignition of the second stage.

22:49 GMT (6:49 pm EDT): The Zenit passed the maximum dynamic pressure, Max-Q.

22:48 GMT (6:48 pm EDT): Liftoff of the Zenit-3SL rocket with the DIRECTV 11 satellite.

22:47 GMT (6:47 pm EDT): One minute until launch.

22:43 GMT (6:43 pm EDT): 5 minutes remaining on the countdown. Start of the synchronized launch sequence. Launch control is switched to computers and power is transferring to internal sources.

22:38 GMT (6:38 pm EDT): 10 minutes until launch. Everything looks good so far.

17:48 GMT (1:48 pm EDT): We are 5 hours away from the launch of the telecommunications satellite DIRECTV 11 on an Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket from the Odyssee platform in the Pacific. The crew left the platform and the final countdown activities commenced.

March 19, 2008: After the scrub two days ago the Zenit-3SL rocket again stands ready on the launch platform Odyssey stationed on the equator at 154 degrees West Longitude. It will be the second flight for Sea-Launch in 2008.

The Zenit-3SL rocket is based on the Zenit 2 launcher with an additional Block DM upper stage for geostationary transfer orbit missions. It is specifically designed to be launched from the former oil platform Odyssee.

DIRECTV 11 is a telecommunications satellite for DIRECTV, based in the United States. It is manufactured from Boeing based on the 702 model. It weighs approximately 5,923 kilograms at liftoff and will deliver high-definition television (HDTV) programming for at least 12 years.

The launch window opens for 58 mintes at 22:48 GMT (6:48 pm EDT) on March 19, 2008.

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