Satellite Launcher Signs Deal.

Long Beach-based Sea Launch announced it has signed a contract to launch two communications satellites for Hughes Electronics Corp.'s Spaceway unit in a deal with Boeing Co., which also is building the orbiters.

Boeing, which bought Hughes' satellite-making arm for $3.85 billion last year, owns 40 percent of Sea Launch, an international consortium that runs a floating satellite launch platform near the equator.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sea Launch has completed five successful missions to date.