A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL launch vehicle attempted to launch the Intelsat 27 satellite at 0656 on 1 February from its Odyssey launch platform located on the Equator in the Pacific Ocean at 154 degrees West. Early reports indicate that after 25 seconds of flight the first stage engines stopped operating. After 40 seconds of flight all telemetry from the vehicle ceased, presumably when the rocket with the satellite still onboard crashed into the ocean. The satellites insured value is US$406 million.
Sea Launch is to establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to establish the cause of the failure.
