BY JUSTIN RAY

March 12, 2000 -- Follow the flight of Sea Launch and the first ICO mobile communications satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2000

For a complete look at today's failed Sea Launch mission, read our story.

1708 GMT (12:08 p.m. EST)

Today's flight of the Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket has been declared a failure. See a video clip of Sea Launch President Wilbur Trafton announcing failure.

Engineers believe the problems encountered in receiving data from the rocket during the second and third stages was caused by the vehicle flying off course. Sea Launch believes the upper part of the rocket and attached ICO mobile communications satellite crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 4,300 km from the launch site.

An investigation team will be formed to determine what caused this failure.

The rocket was supposed to place the first of 12 satellites into space for ICO's cellular telephone and data relay constellation. The craft should have been placed into a Medium-Earth-Orbit about 6,500 miles above the planet. ICO had planned to launch 10 primary satellites and two spares. This first satellite -- known as ICO F-1 -- would have been used for a six-month test session to check the Hughes-built craft and the ICO ground network before launching another.

1658 GMT (11:58 a.m. EST)

MISSION FAILURE! Sea Launch officials have just announced that today's flight has "suffered an anomaly." Details to follow.

1654 GMT (11:54 a.m. EST)

Sea Launch has yet to resume its coverage. We are standing by for some sort of an announcement.

1638 GMT (11:38 a.m. EST)

Still awaiting the resumption of Sea Launch's live launch broadcast for an update on the mission. At this point, no new information has been released.

If things are still going according to plan, the Block DM-SL upper stage will restart at T+plus 1 hour, 57 minutes or 1646 GMT (11:46 a.m. EST). The burn will last two minutes and 20 seconds. Spacecraft deployment for ICO F-1 from the upper stage will follow at T+plus 2 hours, 9 minutes and 21 seconds, or about 1659 GMT (11:59 a.m. EST).

1555 GMT (10:55 a.m. EST)

A Sea Launch spokeswoman in Long Beach says no additional information is yet available on the status of today's mission. A lack of data from the rocket has created some drama because officials cannot confirm the Block DM-SL upper stage completed a successful first firing. An update from the Sea Launch Commander ship at the Pacific Ocean launch site is expected at about 1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST).

See video of today's launch in QuickTime format.

1517 GMT (10:17 a.m. EST)

T+plus 28 minutes. Sea Launch has interrupted its live broadcast -- as planned -- during this scheduled coast period. Coverage is not expected to resume until 1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST). A report on the success of the Block DM-SL upper stage's first burn apparently won't be released until then.

Today's launch will last two hours and 9 minutes from liftoff to spacecraft separation, deploying the ICO F-1 mobile communications satellite into a planned Medium-Earth-Orbit.

1509 GMT (10:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 20 minutes. The Block DM-SL signal should be acquired through a Russian ground station in about 15 minutes, officials say. Confirmation of a nominal first burn of the stage could come then.

Meanwhile, the Red Team has arrived on the Odyssey launch platform.

1507 GMT (10:07 a.m. EST)

T+plus 17 minutes, 30 seconds. The Block DM-SL upper stage should have completed its first firing. However, the lack of data from the rocket means engineers cannot determine performance of the stage's liquid-fueled engine.

At this point, the Block DM-SL and attached ICO spacecraft are now in a long coast period that will last about one hour and 40 minutes. The upper stage will restarted at T+plus 1 hour, 57 minutes and 1 second to complete the powered flight.

1505 GMT (10:05 a.m. EST)

T+plus 16 minutes. About one minute remaining in the scheduled first burn of the Block DM-SL upper stage to place the ICO satellite into orbit.

1503 GMT (10:03 a.m. EST)

T+plus 14 minutes. At this point in the flight, the Block DM-SL upper stage should be firing. However, due to ragged data coming from the rocket Sea Launch cannot confirm specific data currently.

1500 GMT (10:00 a.m. EST)

T+plus 11 minutes. TDRSS data has been restored. Sea Launch officials report the rocket continues on the proper track.

1459 GMT (9:59 a.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes. Standing by confirmation of the second stage separation and ignition of the Block DM-SL upper stage. There have been data dropouts reported between the rocket and NASA's orbiting Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

1457 GMT (9:57 a.m. EST)

T+plus 8 minutes. The second stage engine has cut off as planned, Sea Launch says.

1455 GMT (9:55 a.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes. The Zenit rocket's second stage continues its firing. This burn will last another two minutes. No problems have been reported today.

1453 GMT (9:53 a.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes. Flight stablization is nominal. Second stage engine continues to fire.

Also, the helicopter has reported no fires or significant damage to the Odyssey launch platform.

1453 GMT (9:53 a.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The payload fairing has separated.

1452 GMT (9:52 a.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The first stage has shutdown and separated. Second stage ignition is confirmed.

1451 GMT (9:51 a.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes. The Zenit first stage engine is now throttling. Data from the rocket is now being received through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

1450 GMT (9:50 a.m. EST)

T+plus 90 seconds. Flight stablization is reported normal.

1450 GMT (9:50 a.m. EST)

T+plus 60 seconds. Vehicle passing through maximum dynamic pressure.

1449 GMT (9:49 a.m. EST)

T+plus 30 seconds. Vehicle systems reported normal as the Zenit rocket heads southeast away from the Odyssey platform.

1449 GMT (9:49 a.m. EST)

LIFTOFF. Liftoff of Sea Launch with the first ICO satellite, establishing the foundation for a new communications constellation in the sky.

1448 GMT (9:48 a.m. EST)

T-minus 1 minute.

1447 GMT (9:47 a.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The ICO F-1 satellite is declared ready for launch.

1445 GMT (9:45 a.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. A final management poll has been completed and all systems were reported go for launch.

Today's liftoff will be third for Sea Launch, the second commercial mission and first to occur in darkness.

1445 GMT (9:45 a.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes. The transporter/erector arm has been returned to the hangar, and the hangar door has been closed for launch.

1443 GMT (9:43 a.m. EST)

T-minus 6 minutes. All systems remain "go" for launch. The arm is about fully retracted to the hangar.

1439 GMT (9:39 a.m. EST)

T-minus 10 minutes. The transporter/erector arm has been lowered to Odyssey launch platform deck. It is now rolling back into the protective hangar.

1433 GMT (9:33 a.m. EST)

The transporter/erector arm is now being retracted from its vertical position against the Zenit 3SL rocket. The arm is used to roll the rocket out of the hangar atop the Odyssey platform and to lift the rocket upright.

1429 GMT (9:29 a.m. EST)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting.

1414 GMT (9:14 a.m. EST)

Fueling operations are nearing completion for the Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket. The launch team aboard the Sea Launch Commander ship located about 3 miles away from the Odyssey platform are monitoring vehicle systems. No significant technical problems are being worked and weather and sea conditions are within limits for liftoff at 1449:15 GMT (9:49:15 a.m. EST). There is just a one-second launch window available due to the requirements by the ICO communications satellite payload.

1349 GMT (8:49 a.m. EST)

T-minus 1 hour and counting. The countdown continues for today's flight of Sea Launch.

1329 GMT (8:29 a.m. EST)

Live video is now being received from the Odyssey platform at the equatorial launch site. Liquid oxygen vapors can be seen venting from the rocket into the predawn darkness.

1300 GMT (8 a.m. EST)

Now inside the final two hours to today's Sea Launch mission with the ICO F-1 mobile communications satellite. The Zenit 3SL rocket is currently being fueled atop the Odyssey launch platform along the equator at 154 degrees West, about 1,400 miles south of Hawaii. Officials say there are no problems standing in the way of launch at 1449 GMT (9:49 a.m. EST), the opening of a one-second window.

1000 GMT (5 a.m. EST)

The final countdown is underway for today's mission of Sea Launch to place the first mobile communications satellite into orbit for the ICO system. As of 0700 GMT (2 a.m. EST), there were no technical problems being addressed by engineers and weather conditions at the Edquatorial Pacific Ocean launch site were perfect. Launch remains scheduled to occur at 1449 GMT (9:49 a.m. EST) today.

We will have live updates beginning about an hour before liftoff and continuing through the two hour, 9-minute launch.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2000

A new constellation of cellular telephone and data relay satellites will be started in Earth orbit on Sunday when the first of 12 ICO communications spacecraft is scheduled to be carried aloft by a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket. The London-based ICO Global Communications aims at launching its voice, data, fax and messaging system in October 2002. ICO's competition: Globalstar and the bankrupt Iridium systems.

ICO has chosen Sea Launch for its first satellite deployment mission. Sea Launch will be making its third flight.

Sea Launch uses the Ukrainian-built Zenit rocket and the Russian-made Block DM-SL upper stage. Liftoff will occur from the Odyssey launch platform -- a modified oil drilling platform -- positioned along the Equator at 154 degrees West longitude in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,400 miles southeast from Hawaii. The countdown is controlled from the Sea Launch Commander ship located a safe three miles away from Odyssey.

Officials will have only one second to launch the Zenit 3SL rocket on Sunday beginning at precisely 1449:15 GMT (9:49:15 a.m. EST).

The Sea Launch Commander and Odyssey departed their home port in Long Beach, Calif., on February 26 and 27, respectively. After communications tests near the port, the two vessels embarked on the voyage to the launch site on February 27. The duo arrived on March 9 and the three-day launch countdown was started.

Once at the site, the 20-story high Odyssey was ballasted to its launch depth and oriented to minimize wind and wave effects. Today the rocket will be rolled out of the hangar and automatically erected to a vertical position on the pad. Fueling will start about 2 1/2 hours prior to liftoff on Sunday after the platform is cleared of all workers. The transporter/erector arm is retracted from the rocket and rolled into the protective hangar at T-minus 17 minutes.

It will take about two hours and 9 minutes for the Zenit 3SL and its Block DM-SL upper stage to place the Hughes-built ICO satellite into intended Medium-Earth-Orbit, completing the launch. The planned orbit is inclined 45 degrees to the equator, about 6,500 miles above the Earth's surface of the Earth.

Sea Launch is an international consortium with partners Boeing of Kent, Washington, Anglo-Norwegian Kvaerner Group of Oslo, Norway, RSC Energia of Moscow, Russia and KB Yuzhnoye/PO Yuzhmash of Ukraine.

We will complete live coverage throughout the final countdown and launch here in the Mission Status Center.