Settling down to a rehearsal in the Launch Control Center, the team at the payload console is focused on their data. From left, are Brad Crocker, launch vehicle technical advisor for Boeing Satellite Systems; Rico Attanasio, Launch Day director for Boeing Satellite Systems, Jeff Snyder, spacecraft mission manager for XM Satellite Radio; and Ammon Madsen, payload integration manager for Sea Launch.

The launch team is separated in the Launch Control Center, for the purposes of language, technology transfer management, and function. The Russian-speaking side manages rocket operations, while the English-speaking side manages mission operations, including the spacecraft. Here, we see a long view of the U.S. side of the Launch Control Center, during the rehearsal.

The Ukrainians and Russians work on the Russian-speaking side of the Launch Control Center.

From right, are Marat Mukhamentov, technical manager for DBTM; Volodymyr Korkh, technical manager for Yuzhmash; and Volodymyr Sheremet, deputy manager of rocket complex operations.

Accompanying the team on this mission is Paul Tran, a representative of the U.S. Government's Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA)...

... and representatives from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Charles Huet (left) and Wynn Aung.

(Photos by David Hutsell
for Sea Launch)

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