Sea Launch: Aerospace Live Streaming Platform
TL;DR:
- Challenge: Stream live rocket launches from ocean-based platform to global audience
- Approach: Reliable video infrastructure with global CDN and spike handling
- Result: Successful live broadcasts of commercial satellite deployments
At a Glance
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Client | Sea Launch |
| Industry | Aerospace / Commercial Space |
| Challenge | Stream live rocket launches from remote ocean platform to global viewers |
| Solution | Live streaming infrastructure with CDN distribution and traffic spike handling |
| Key Requirement | Zero-failure tolerance for live launch events |
The Challenge: Broadcasting Rocket Launches from the Pacific
Sea Launch occupied a unique position in the commercial space industry. They launched satellites from a converted oil platform—the Odyssey—positioned at the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The equatorial location maximized payload capacity by taking advantage of Earth's rotational velocity. The ocean location meant flexibility in positioning and no neighbors to worry about.
But it also meant broadcasting live video from the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
When a $100+ million satellite heads to orbit, stakeholders want to watch. Customers, media, space enthusiasts, industry observers. All tuning in at the same moment for a scheduled launch window. The infrastructure has to handle the traffic spike. And it has to work—you cannot replay a rocket launch if the stream fails.
The Solution: High-Stakes Live Streaming Infrastructure
We built live streaming infrastructure designed for the unforgiving nature of live events.
Global Video Delivery
Live video from the launch platform needed to reach viewers worldwide:
- Video encoding and transmission from the Odyssey platform
- Origin server infrastructure to receive and process the stream
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) distribution to edge servers globally
- Low-latency delivery keeping viewers as close to real-time as possible
Traffic Spike Handling
Launch events create predictable but intense traffic patterns:
- Pre-launch: moderate traffic as viewers arrive
- T-minus: rapid ramp-up as launch approaches
- Launch and ascent: peak concurrent viewers
- Post-launch: gradual decline
The infrastructure needed to scale instantly for these spikes without degradation.
Cross-Platform Player Technology
Viewers watch from different devices:
- Desktop browsers (primary for media and business viewers)
- Mobile devices (enthusiasts watching from anywhere)
- Reliable playback regardless of platform
Archive and Replay
After the live event:
- Recording of full launch sequence
- On-demand availability for those who missed the live broadcast
- Archive for historical and marketing purposes
The Results
- Successful live broadcasts of commercial satellite launches reaching global audiences
- Reliable delivery handling traffic spikes during launch windows
- Global reach through CDN distribution to viewers across time zones
- Archive capability preserving launches for on-demand viewing
Key Takeaway
Live events are unforgiving. The infrastructure has to work perfectly when it matters most—there are no second chances to replay a rocket launch. Building for live requires redundancy, spike handling, and absolute reliability during the moments that count.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is live streaming for rocket launches?
Live streaming for rocket launches delivers real-time video of launch events to global audiences. This requires reliable video infrastructure, low-latency delivery, and capacity to handle traffic spikes as viewers tune in for scheduled launch windows. The stakes are high because launches cannot be repeated if technical issues occur.
How do you stream live video from remote locations?
Streaming live video from remote locations requires satellite uplink or dedicated connectivity to reach content delivery networks. The video is encoded on-site, transmitted to origin servers, then distributed globally through CDN edge servers. For extremely remote locations like ocean platforms, satellite connectivity is often the only option.
What infrastructure supports live event streaming?
Live event streaming infrastructure includes video encoding equipment, origin servers to receive the stream, content delivery networks (CDNs) for global distribution, and player technology for viewer devices. Redundancy is critical since live events cannot be replayed. Load testing and capacity planning ensure the system handles peak traffic.
How do aerospace companies use video for communications?
Aerospace companies use video for launch broadcasts, mission updates, customer communications, and public relations. Video brings abstract technology to life, showing actual hardware and operations rather than just describing them. Live launch streaming has become standard practice, with companies like SpaceX now broadcasting routinely to millions of viewers.
Technologies Used
- Live video encoding and transmission
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) distribution
- Origin server infrastructure
- Cross-platform video player
- Traffic spike scaling
- Video archive and on-demand playback
- Global edge server distribution