The Sea Launch Commander arrived after a month-long journey from St. Petersburg, Russia, where it was fitted with more than 600 tons of electronic and mechanical support equipment and took on the first two Sea Launch rockets -- modified versions of the proven Ukrainian-built Zenit.

The vessel, known as the Assembly and Command Ship (ACS), serves as a floating mission-control center and rocket-assembly plant -- the first ever in the world.

"Today marks an important milestone in the Sea Launch mission to provide affordable, reliable and convenient satellite-launch services," said Allen B. Ashby, Sea Launch president and general manager. "The Sea Launch Commander is a one-of-a-kind ship, and we're exceptionally pleased that it has arrived at our operations base in Long Beach."

The Sea Launch Commander was designed specifically for Sea Launch by the Anglo-Norwegian corporation Kvaerner, a partner in the international Sea Launch venture.

At first glance, it looks like a cruise ship, painted white with bright blue and gold stripes across its sides. It has accommodations and entertainment -- including a swimming pool and a cinema -- for up to 240 people, including crew, launch technicians and customers.

A closer look below deck reveals a roll-on, roll-off cargo- vessel design arranged for assembly and transportation of launch vehicles, as well as integration of their satellite payloads. The above-deck control room is filled with sophisticated communications and rocket-control equipment.

A separate customer control room allows Sea Launch users to communicate with and test their satellite payloads both before and after launch.

The Sea Launch Commander is 667 feet long. The ship was built at the Kvaerner Govan Shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, and christened there in September 1997.

A second, unique Sea Launch vessel, the Odyssey, is en route from Russia and due in Long Beach in late August. The Odyssey, a self- propelled, semi-submersible launch platform (LP), was converted from a North Sea oil-drilling rig by Kvaerner at its shipyard in Stavanger, Norway.

The Home Port, on former Navy property at the Port of Long Beach, features a payload-processing facility that includes two state-of-the- art spacecraft-preparation areas and an encapsulation facility.

Located conveniently close to satellite manufacturers in California, it also includes a warehouse that can house up to three Zenit launch vehicles, a 1,000-foot wharf for berthing of the two vessels, and offices for Sea Launch customers.

The first launch is scheduled for late 1998 near Christmas Island, about 1,400 miles southeast of Hawaii and near the equator. From that location, the launch vehicle follows the shortest possible route to orbit, thereby increasing equivalent capability. The site also has routinely calm waters.

Before departing for the launch site, the satellite will be mated with the launch vehicle aboard the Sea Launch Commander and transferred to the Odyssey. Once the two vessels are at the launch site, the Odyssey crew will leave that vessel and board the command ship.

After the Odyssey is stabilized by partial submersion, the space vehicle will be erected, fueled and launched via remote control from the Sea Launch Commander, about three miles away.

The first launch will boost a next-generation Hughes Model HS 702 communications satellite -- dubbed Galaxy XI -- into geostationary transfer orbit. To date, Sea Launch has contracts for 17 other launches.