At-Sea activities commence even before the Sea Launch
Commander loses sight of land. The first event of the voyage is the mandatory evacuation drill, which trains everyone on board to find their lifejackets, their muster stations and their assigned lifeboats.

With the team now settled in their cabins and their offices, a launch rehearsal gets underway to provide one of several practice sessions in the Launch Control Center. Here, you see part of the Russian/Ukrainian end of the center.

The Launch Control Center as seen from the American end of the center.

Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi, Thuraya's Senior Manager Technology Development, studies mission information during the reheasal and then gets a pointer from Keith Dayton, Sea Launch VP Operations. Sitting next to Keith is Rob Peckham, Sea Launch President.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives Phil Brinkman and Al Wassel participate in the rehearsal as does Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) representative Alan Gonzalez.

Engineers Rich Mehalick, Nate Stewart and technician Lou Miramontes take a break from the rehearsal to smile for the camera.

(Sea Launch photos by
Dave Hutsell)

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