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Sea Launch receives 2003 ISCe innovation award
CALIFORNIA: Sea Launch has received the 2003 ISCe Innovation Award during the International Satellite and Communications exchange annual awards dinner and reception a few days ago. The event was held as part of the ISCe conference in Long Beach.
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.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
