MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - A Ukrainian Zenit-3SL carrier rocket was successfully launched from the Odyssey floating platform in the Pacific Ocean as part of the Sea Launch international project, the Russian Mission Control Center said Thursday.

Boeing official spokesman Viktor Anoshkin said that the carrier rocket was to launch the Intelsat Americas IA-8 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Space Systems/Loral made the 5.5-ton satellite, which has a 15-year life span in orbit.

According to Anoshkin, the satellite is meant for digital broadcasting in North and South America, the Caribbean and Hawaii.

"This is one of the most powerful satellites of this class having 28 transponders," he said.

Sea Launch, based in Long Beach, California, is considered the most reliable provider of satellite launch services via the Boeing Launch Services company.