Sea Launch Co., a Long Beach rocket venture that is 40 percent owned by aerospace giant Boeing Co., has filed for bankruptcy court protection, citing recurring losses from operations.

The unusual company, which includes Russian, Norwegian and Ukrainian partners, said lower demand for lifting commercial satellites into space and a recent inability to secure financing to pay a $52-million arbitration ruling against it led to the Chapter 11 filing.

The venture, which launches rockets at sea from a floating platform, said in a statement that it “intends to maintain all normal business operations.” In the filing, Sea Launch listed assets of up to $500 million and liabilities of more than $1 billion.

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