Viasat Completes ViaSat-3 F3 Launch, Adds 1Tbps Capacity Over APAC
Viasat’s ViaSat-3 F3 satellite launched on April 29 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, separated under five hours after liftoff, and acquired its first signals minutes later in geostationary transfer orbit. The 1Tbps payload will cover the Asia-Pacific region, completing the ViaSat-3 constellation and targeting service entry in late summer.
1. Launch Success and Signal Acquisition
ViaSat-3 F3 lifted off at 10:13 a.m. EDT on April 29 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A, separated from the upper stage under five hours after liftoff, and acquired its first signals minutes later, confirming healthy status in geostationary transfer orbit.
2. Satellite Capacity and Technology
Designed to deliver over 1 terabit per second of throughput, ViaSat-3 F3 uses advanced beam-forming and innovative payload design to dynamically steer capacity across the Asia-Pacific region, concentrating bandwidth where demand and returns are highest.
3. Strategic Impact on Global Network
The F3 satellite completes the three-unit ViaSat-3 constellation following F1’s 2024 service entry and F2’s ongoing in-orbit testing, reinforcing Viasat’s multi-orbit network strategy to scale global capacity and resilience for commercial mobility and defense clients.
4. Path to Service Entry
Following launch, ViaSat-3 F3 will deploy solar arrays, navigate to its geostationary slot, extend reflectors, and undergo final in-orbit testing and network integration ahead of a planned late-summer service entry.