SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center to deliver the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into orbit [1, 2].
This mission is critical because it completes the ViaSat-3 constellation, expanding high-capacity broadband access across the Asia-Pacific region. The satellite utilizes electric propulsion to move from its initial transfer orbit to a final geostationary position [1, 2].
The launch took place from Launch Complex 39A in Florida [1, 2, 3]. While some reports listed the date as Monday, April 27, 2026 [1], other sources cited April 28 [4] or April 29 [2]. The scheduled launch time was 10:21 a.m. EDT [1], with a launch window lasting 85 minutes [3].
This flight marks the 12th overall mission for the Falcon Heavy rocket [1]. It is the first time the heavy-lift vehicle has flown since October 2024 [1]. The payload, the ViaSat-3 F3, is the third and final terabit-class broadband satellite in the series [2].
Boeing manufactured the satellite for ViaSat [1]. The rocket placed the spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, which serves as the starting point for the satellite's journey to its operational slot [1, 2].
“This mission is critical because it completes the ViaSat-3 constellation.”
The completion of the ViaSat-3 constellation represents a significant increase in global satellite capacity. By deploying the final terabit-class satellite, ViaSat can now provide high-speed data services to previously underserved regions in the Asia-Pacific, reducing reliance on terrestrial infrastructure in remote areas.
