[Satellite Today – 1-15-08] Sea Launch placed the Thuraya-3 mobile communications satellite into orbit Jan. 15, the launch provider’s first mission since its January 2007 failure.
    Thuraya-3 was launched at 6:49 a.m. EST, and a ground station in Fillmore, Calif., acquired signals from the satellite nearly two hours after launch, satellite manufacturer Boeing Co. announced.
    Sea Launch tried to launch the satellite in October, but was forced back to port after unusually strong currents at Sea Launch’s site at the equator interfered with the operations of the company’s floating platform.
    Thuraya-3 will provide mobile voice and data services from its orbital slot at 98.5° East.