Friends, families, employees and partners gather on the Sea Launch pier in the Port of Long Beach to bid farewell to the Sea Launch Commander and its passengers - our at-sea team.

In a ceremonial Launch readiness poll, Ken Hill, vice-president of Launch Operations, learns that the team is "ready".

At far left is Jim Maser, president of Sea launch. Ivan Klychnik, center, is translating (English and Russian are our working languages.)

Ken Nash, program manager for Boeing Satellite Systems, offers remarks...

And the Sea Launch Commander lets go its lines and eases out of port.