The Sea Launch team gathers on the pier for the departure of the
Sea Launch
Commander. Rob Peckham, president and general manager, and Keith Dayton, vice president, launch operations, make some parting remarks and then take the final readiness poll. Irina Masinovsky translates. And the strong energy of the moment is tangible.

A special gathering of friends and colleagues… From left are Brad Crocker, Thuraya-3 spacecraft manager, Boeing; Craig Peterson, Thuraya-3 mission manager, Sea Launch; Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi, senior manager technology development, Thuraya; and Don Johnson, Thuraya-3 program manager, Boeing.

Rob Peckham boards the ship for his first mission at sea and, with all passengers on board, the crew lifts the gangplank.

(Sea Launch photos by
Paula Korn)

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