ViaSat-2
{{Short description|Communications satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = ViaSat-2
| names_list =
| image = Viasat-2-satellite.jpg
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| mission_type = Communication
| operator = ViaSat
| mission_duration = 15 years (planned)
{{time interval|June 1, 2017|show=ymd|sep=,}} (elasped)
| spacecraft =
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| manufacturer = Boeing
| launch_mass = {{cvt|14,110|lb|kg}}{{cite news |url= http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/viasat-2-launches-big-broadband-potential/413196|title=ViaSat 2 Launches With Big Broadband Potential|publisher=Multichannel News|first=Jeff|last=Baumgartner|date=June 2, 2017|access-date=September 1, 2017}}
| BOL_mass = 6,418 kg
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| launch_date = June 1, 2017
| launch_rocket = Ariane 5
| launch_site =
| launch_contractor = Arianespace
| deployment_from =
| deployment_date = June 1, 2017
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| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit
| orbit_longitude = 69.9° West
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| trans_band = Ka-band
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}}
ViaSat-2 is a commercial communications satellite launched June 1, 2017 and went live late February 2018. It was advertised to be the world's highest capacity communications satellite with a throughput of 300 Gbit/s, exceeding that of HughesNet EchoStar XIX, which launched in December 2016.{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/connected-aerospace/meet-world-s-most-advanced-telecom-satellite |title= Meet The World's Most Advanced Telecom Satellite |date= Apr 26, 2017 |author= Joe Anselmo and Lee Ann Shay |work= Aviation Week & Space Technology}} It is the second Ka-band satellite launched by ViaSat after ViaSat-1. The satellite provides internet service through ViaSat (Exede prior to rebranding) to North America, parts of South America, including Mexico and the Caribbean, and to air and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
History
In May 2013, ViaSat gave the construction contract of the satellite to Boeing.{{cite press release |title= ViaSat Announces Next Generation Broadband Satellite |url= https://www.viasat.com/news/viasat-announces-next-generation-broadband-satellite |access-date= 29 June 2015 |publisher= ViaCom |date= May 16, 2013}} On May 1, 2014 ViaSat sold capacity on the satellite to Xplornet Communications.{{cite news|title=Xplornet Acquires Canadian Capacity on ViaSat-2 Satellite|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/xplornet-acquires-canadian-capacity-on-viasat-2-satellite-2014-05-01|access-date=29 June 2015|date=May 1, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Xplornet Charts Path to 100 Mbps Broadband Speed Using HTS|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2014/10/02/xplornet-charts-path-to-100-mbps-broadband-speed-using-hts/|access-date=29 June 2015|work=Satellite Today|date=October 2, 2014}} In January 2015, ViaSat gave the launch contract to SpaceX in an uncontested auction.{{cite news|last1=Selding|first1=Peter|title=ViaSat-2 Launch Contract Goes to SpaceX as Arianespace Sits out Competition|url=http://spacenews.com/42557viasat-2-launch-contract-goes-to-spacex-as-arianespace-sits-out/|access-date=29 June 2015|work=Space News|date=November 14, 2014}} After SpaceX CRS-7 exploded after launch in June 2015, concerns arose that the investigation may affect the mission's launch window.{{cite news|title=Falcon 9 failure deals blow to inflight high-speed Internet schemes|url=http://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/06/28/falcon-9-failure-deals-blow-to-inflight-high-speed-internet-schemes/|access-date=29 June 2015|work=Runway Girl Network|date=June 28, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Davenport|first1=Christian|title=SpaceX's rocket just exploded. Here's why that's such a big deal.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/06/28/elon-musks-spacex-to-attempt-historic-landing/|access-date=29 June 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=June 28, 2015}} On February 9, 2016 Arianespace announced it had won contracts to launch ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 in 2017 and 2019, respectively.{{Cite press release |title = Arianespace to Launch Two ViaSat High Capacity Satellites |url = http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-to-launch-two-viasat-high-capacity-satellites/ |publisher= Arianespace |date = February 9, 2016 }}
ViaSat-2 was launched on June 1, 2017 by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.{{Cite press release|title = ViaSat Confirms the ViaSat-2 Satellite is Scheduled to Launch on June 1, 2017|url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viasat-confirms-the-viasat-2-satellite-is-scheduled-to-launch-on-june-1-2017-300446548.html|website = PR Newswire|access-date = 30 Apr 2017|language = en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Bon Chance! Arianespace Celebrates Launch of ViaSat-2 and EUTELSAT 172B|url=http://satnews.com/story.php?number=2026391294|access-date = 1 Jun 2017|website=Satnews|language = en-US}} The launch date was originally set for April 25, 2017 but was delayed due to social unrest affecting the spaceport area.{{Cite web|title = ViaSat's results mixed for quarter; sets April 25 launch for latest satellite|url = http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/sd-fi-viasat-launch-20170209-story.html|website = San Diego Union-Tribune| date=9 February 2017 |access-date = 16 Mar 2017|language = en-US}}{{Cite web|title = ViaSat's satellite launch delayed due to civil unrest in French Guiana|url = http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/technology/sd-fi-viasat-delay-20170403-story.html|website = San Diego Union-Tribune| date=3 April 2017 |access-date = 24 Apr 2017|language = en-US}} ViaSat-2 successfully arrived in geostationary orbit at 69.9 degrees west longitude on December 5, 2017. The satellite employed a hybrid propulsion approach, using both traditional chemical as well as electric propulsion. The chemical propulsion subsystem was responsible for initial orbit raising and performing according to plan, setting the state for the follow-on ascent to geostationary orbit using electric propulsion, which was completed the last week of November 2017. Viasat spacecraft partner, Boeing Satellite Systems International, controlled and monitored ViaSat-2 throughout the orbit raising process, flying the satellite from its Mission Control Center in El Segundo, California.{{Cite web|title = ViaSat-2 Receives and Transmits First Data from Space|url = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/viasat-2-satellite-reaches-geostationary-131200986.html|website = Yahoo Finance|access-date = 5 Dec 2017|language = en-US}}
Functionality
The $600 million satellite was intended to have a 300 Gbit/s throughput, up from ViaSat-1's 140 Gbit/s in 2011. It uses Ka-band frequencies.{{cite news|last1=Selding|first1=Peter|title=ViaSat-2's 'First of its Kind' Design Will Enable Broad Geographic Reach|url=http://spacenews.com/35369viasat-2s-first-of-its-kind-design-will-enable-broad-geographic-reach/|access-date=29 June 2015|work=Space News|date=17 May 2013}}
Problems with two of the four Ka-band antennae, leading to a less optimal coverage pattern than designed{{cite news |last1=de Selding |first1=Peter |url=https://www.spaceintelreport.com/viasats-mark-dankberg-cause-of-defect-on-two-viasat-2-antennas-remains-a-mystery/ |title=ViaSat's Mark Dankberg: Cause of defect on two ViaSat-2 antennas remains a mystery}} have reduced throughput to 260 Gbit/s.{{cite news|last1=Henry| first1=Caleb |title=Viasat preps big insurance claim for ViaSat-2 antenna anomaly |url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-preps-big-insurance-claim-for-viasat-2-antenna-anomaly/}}