SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 [2, 5].
This mission marks the return of the heavy-lift rocket after an 18-month hiatus, expanding satellite connectivity capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region.
Lift off occurred at 10:13 a.m. [4] from Launch Complex 39A in Florida [2]. The mission represents the 12th overall flight of the Falcon Heavy vehicle [1]. This follows the previous Falcon Heavy flight in October 2024 [1].
The path to launch included a delay. A scheduled attempt for Monday, April 27, was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather [3, 4]. During that initial attempt, the countdown reached T-23 seconds before a hold was called [6]. A SpaceX webcast host said, "Hold!" [6] during the scrubbed sequence.
Florida Today staff described the event as a rare Falcon Heavy flight set to kick off a doubleheader launch day from Florida [7]. A Florida Today reporter said, "Lift off occurred 10:13 a.m. Wed. April 29" [8].
The payload is a Boeing-built ViaSat-3 F3 satellite [2]. SpaceX delivered the spacecraft to a geosynchronous transfer orbit [1, 2]. From there, the satellite will use electric propulsion to insert itself into a geostationary orbit over the Asia-Pacific region [1, 2].
The original launch window for the mission was set for a nominal entry time of 10:21 a.m. EDT [1]. However, the actual lift off on Wednesday occurred slightly earlier at 10:13 a.m. [4].
“"Lift off occurred 10:13 a.m. Wed. April 29."”
The successful deployment of the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite strengthens Viasat's infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific market. By utilizing the Falcon Heavy's increased lift capacity, SpaceX can deliver heavier, high-capacity Boeing-built satellites into transfer orbits, reducing the fuel burden on the satellite's own propulsion systems for final orbit insertion.
