Viasat has confirmed the successful launch and initial signal acquisition of its ViaSat-3 Flight 3 (F3) satellite, the latest spacecraft in the company’s ViaSat-3 constellation aimed at expanding capacity over the Asia-Pacific region.
The company said ViaSat-3 F3 lifted off at 10:13 a.m. EDT on April 29, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Viasat said the satellite separated from the upper stage just under five hours after liftoff, with initial signals received minutes later.
ViaSat-3 F3 is designed to deliver more than 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of throughput capacity over the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, using beam-forming technology intended to steer capacity in real time and concentrate bandwidth where demand is highest.
Viasat said the launch completes its next-generation ViaSat-3 satellite constellation. The company noted ViaSat-3 F1 has been in service since 2024, while ViaSat-3 F2 remains in in-orbit testing.
“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. “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.”
Viasat said the satellite will now deploy solar arrays and begin manoeuvring to its final geostationary orbit. It will then complete final deployments, including reflectors, before entering in-orbit testing and network integration. The company said it anticipates ViaSat-3 F3 will enter service in late summer.
