Galaxy IIIC is one of three Boeing 702 satellites for the fleet operated by PanAmSat Corporation, the world's leading commercial provider of satellite-based communications services. The satellite was ordered in August 1999, and was successfully launched on June 15, 2002 by Sea Launch. The Boeing 702 is the largest and most powerful vehicle in the Satellite Development Center line, using state-of-the-art technologies in propulsion, power generation and thermal control. The company announced the 702 model in October 1995, as an evolution of its popular body-stabilized 601/601HP line.