Viasat has confirmed the successful launch and initial signal acquisition of the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 (F3) satellite. The spacecraft will provide connectivity over Asia Pacific.
The satellite lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Centre. It successfully separated from the launch vehicle’s upper stage just under five hours after lift-off, with initial signals acquired minutes later, confirming the satellite is in orbit and ready for the next phase of operations.
The satellite’s flexible bandwidth deployment capabilities are a significant differentiator for both commercial and defence customers.
“As we celebrate the successful launch of ViaSat-3 F3, it’s once again important to recognize this achievement as a testament to the dedication and expertise of hundreds of Viasat team members and the close collaboration with our partners,” said Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat.
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“ViaSat-3 F3 will provide greater resilience for government and commercial mobility users, leveraging powerful beamforming capabilities to quickly deliver bandwidth in and around commercial, enterprise, geopolitical and other hot spots. As we look forward, our ViaSat-3 satellites will significantly scale our overall network’s performance, strengthening our ability to deliver the capacity for key growth initiatives globally.”
Following its successful launch, the satellite will now deploy its solar arrays and begin navigating to its final geostationary orbital location. Then, ViaSat-3 F3 will undergo final deployments, including its reflectors, before undergoing in-orbit testing and network integration, which is critical to effective operations and services. ViaSat-3 F3 is currently anticipated to enter service in late summer.
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