KIEV, Feb. 16 - The Ukrainian-designed launch vehicle, Zenit-3SL, on Thursday successfully delivered the EchoStar X communications satellite to an orbit that will allow direct-to-home television broadcast services to customers in the U.S.

This is the first of six launches that are scheduled to be carried out in 2006 by Sea Launch Company, a space consortium that unites Boeing and leading Ukrainian and Russian space firms.