Posted: Wed, Nov 16, 2005, 8:50 AM ET (1350 GMT)
Sea Launch, the multinational commercial launch venture, announced Tuesday that it has received a contract to launch a new broadcasting satellite for DirecTV. A Zenit-3SL will launch an unnamed DirecTV satellite in early 2007 under the contract, terms of which were not announced. While the identity of the spacecraft was not revealed, Sea Launch said in a press release that it is one of three large Boeing 702 spacecraft, each weighing over 6,000 kg, currently on order. The contact also includes an option for a second launch.

Related Links:

•  Boeing press release