The president of Hannover Fairs USA which organised the conference Joachim Schafer said: "The award goes to the Sea Launch enterprise and its innovative mobile concept for access-to-space which has proved to be a very reliable launch platform. It truly deserves the recognition of the global satellite and communications industry."

A member of the Sea Launch directors board Bill Collopy said: "It's a special honour for the Sea Launch team to be acknowledged with the 2003 ISCe Innovation Award. After all, it's the people who make it work and it's the way they make it work - enabling Sea Launch to offer creative and flexible alternatives and launch service solutions."

An official release informs that Sea Launch was formed in 1995 in response to increased market demand for a more affordable and reliable commercial satellite launch service. Within five years, the Sea Launch partners built an entire launch infrastructure and operating launch system, with a successful demonstration mission in 1999.

Today, Sea Launch, with nine (of ten) successful launches, combines proven launch systems with marine-based operations to provide heavy-lift launch services for commercial payloads in the 4,000-6,000 kg mass range. This team is committed to providing reliability, superior value, performance and flexibility.

The release adds that the ISCe Advisory Board bestows the innovation award annually to a company or organisation that has developed and demonstrated innovative technologies; applications and/or services which have significantly advanced the satellite and communications industry.

Sea Launch claims to be a world leader in providing heavy-lift commercial launch services. This multinational partnership offers the most direct and cost-effective route to geostationary orbit. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the reliable Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier spacecraft mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus schedule assurance. Sea Launch has a current backlog of 15 firm launch contracts.