LIVE COVERAGE: Sea Launch EchoStar XI Launch (updated 6:21 GMT)

6:21 GMT (2:21 am EDT): The successful separation of EchoStar XI ends this Sea Launch mission.

6:11 GMT (2:11 am EDT): Successful shutdown of the Block DM. The next and final event will be the satellite separation in about 10 minutes.

6:04 GMT (2:04 am EDT): Second ignition of the Block DM. This burn will last about 7:05 minutes.

5:34 GMT (1:34 am EDT): End of the Block DM first burn. The upper stage with the attached EchoStar XI satellite will now enter a coast phase of about 30 minutes.

5:29 GMT (1:29 am EDT): Shutdown of the second stage and ignition of the Block DM third stage.

5:25 GMT (1:25 am EDT): The payload fairing has been jettisoned at about 120 km altitude.

5:23 GMT (1:23 am EDT): First stage shutdown and stage seperation. Successful ignition of the second stage.

5:22 GMT (1:22 am EDT): The Zenit passed the maximum dynamic pressure, Max-Q.

5:21 GMT (1:21 am EDT): Liftoff of the Zenit-3SL rocket with the EchoStar XI satellite.

5:20 GMT (1:20 am EDT): One minute until launch.

5:16 GMT (1:16 am 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.

5:11 GMT (1:11 am EDT): 10 minutes until launch. Everything looks good so far.

4:21 GMT (0:21 am EDT): 1 hour until launch.

0:21 GMT (8:21 pm EDT): We are 5 hours away from the launch of the telecommunications satellite EchoStar XI on an Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket from the Odyssey platform in the Pacific. The crew left the platform and the final countdown activities commenced.
The weather report looks good so far, winds are calm.

July 16, 2008: The Zenit-3SL rocket stands ready on the launch platform Odyssey stationed on the equator at 154 degrees West Longitude. It will be the third 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 Odyssey.

EchoStar XI is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) for DISH. It is manufactured by Space Systems/Loral based on the 1300-series model. It weighs approximately 5,511 kilograms at liftoff and will complement the existing DISH Network fleet.

The liftoff is scheduled for 5:21 GMT (1:21 am EDT) on July 16, 2008.

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