ViaSat-3

{{Short description|Constellation of geostationary communications satellites}}

ViaSat-3 is a planned global constellation of three geostationary Ka band communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/10/10958952/boeing-viasat-fast-internet-developing-countries-rural-homes|title=New 1-Terabit internet satellites will deliver high-speed internet to remote areas |publisher=The Verge|author=Sean O'Kane|date=10 February 2016 |access-date=15 September 2020}} Operated by Viasat, Inc., the satellites are intended to provide broadband connectivity with speeds of 100-plus megabits per second to homes, business and enterprise internet users, commercial, government and business aircraft, as well as government and defense markets, maritime and oceanic enterprises in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

History

The satellites were first announced in 2015. In February 2016, Viasat announced a partnership with Boeing Satellite Systems. For each of the three ViaSat-3 class satellites, Viasat will build the satellite payload and Boeing will provide the 702 satellite bus, system integration and test, launch vehicle integration and mission operations services.{{cite web|url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/innovation/2016/12/19/viasat-boeing-complete-preliminary-design-review-viasat-3-satellites/ |title=ViaSat, Boeing Complete Preliminary Design Review for ViaSat 3 Satellites|publisher=Satellite Today|author=Veronica Magan|date=19 December 2016|access-date=15 September 2020}} Each ViaSat-3 satellite is being manufactured at Viasat's manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona and the Boeing Satellite Systems facility in El Segundo, California.{{cite web |url=https://spacenews.com/supplier-issue-behind-delays-with-first-viasat-3-launch/|title=Supplier issue behind delays with first ViaSat-3 launch|publisher=Space News|author=Caleb Henry|date=19 June 2019|access-date=15 September 2020}} The satellites are projected to have a total network capacity over 1 terabit per second.{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/viasat-3.htm|title=ViaSat 3 Americas, Asia, EMEA|publisher=Gunther's Space Page|access-date=15 September 2020}}

Satellites

class="wikitable"

|+ViaSat-3 satellite constellation

style="vertical-align: bottom;"

! style="width:10%; | Satellite

! style="width:15%; | Region

! style="width:15%; | Launch (UTC)

! style="width:15%; | Rocket

! style="width:15%; | Launch site

! style="width:10%; | Status

! style="width:5%; | Ref.

style="text-align:center;" nowrap | VS3 F1

| style="text-align:center;" | Americas

| style="text-align:center;" | 1 May 2023, 00:26

| style="text-align:left;" | Falcon Heavy

| style="text-align:left;" | Kennedy, LC-39A

| {{yes|In service}}

| style="text-align:left;" |

style="text-align:center;" | VS3 F2

| style="text-align:center;" | {{Abbr|EMEA|Europe, Middle East and Africa}}

| style="text-align:center;" | Q3 2025

| style="text-align:left;" | Atlas V 551

| style="text-align:left;" | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41

| {{planned}}

| style="text-align:left;" |

{{Cite web |title=Atlas V 551 {{!}} ViaSat-3 F2 |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/913 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://investors.viasat.com/static-files/d7afaa12-4d26-4b09-a1cc-9d7f0fa45a97|publisher=Viasat|title=Q3 FY2025 Earnings Results|date=February 6, 2025|access-date=May 1, 2025}}

style="text-align:center;" nowrap | VS3 F3

| style="text-align:center;" | {{Abbr|APAC|Asia-Pacific}}

| {{TBA}}

| {{planned}}

| style="text-align:left;" | {{Cite web |title=Ariane 64 {{!}} ViaSat-3 Asia-Pacific |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/437 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}}

The ViaSat-3 constellation consists of three separate satellites, each designed to provide coverage to a global region: ViaSat-3 F1 will cover the Americas; ViaSat-3 F2 will cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and ViaSat-3 F3 will cover the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. However due to technical difficulties with F1 that significantly lowered its capacity, once F2 is launched it will cover the Americas, and F1 will be moved to the EMEA region. {{Cite web |last=Rainbow |first=Jason |date=2024-02-07 |title=Viasat preparing to start services from hobbled ViaSat-3 satellite |url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-preparing-to-start-services-from-hobbled-viasat-3-satellite/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

Launch

Viasat has three launch contracts, one for each ViaSat-3 class satellite. In 2016, the company announced plans to launch the first satellite with Arianespace on an Ariane 6 rocket. In 2018, Viasat announced that the second one will be launched with United Launch Alliance on an Atlas V, and the third one with SpaceX on the Falcon Heavy.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-orders-asia-pacific-viasat-3-from-boeing-amid-record-revenue/|title=Viasat orders Asia Pacific ViaSat-3 from Boeing amid record revenue|publisher=SpaceNews|author=Caleb Henry|date=8 February 2019|access-date=15 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-books-falcon-heavy-for-viasat-3-launch/|title=Viasat books Falcon Heavy for ViaSat-3 launch|publisher=SpaceNews|author=Caleb Henry|date=25 October 2018|access-date=15 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-books-ula-atlas-5-for-a-viasat-3-satellite-launch/|title=Viasat books ULA Atlas 5 for a ViaSat-3 satellite launch|publisher=SpaceNews|author=Caleb Henry|date=10 September 2018|access-date=15 September 2020}}

The ViaSat-3 F1 (Americas) and ViaSat-3 F2 (EMEA) satellites at one time were expected to launch about six months apart starting in 2021, with the ViaSat-3 F3 (APAC) satellite projected to launch in the second half of 2022.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-starts-viasat-4-development-mulls-hybrid-geo-leo-terrestrial-connections/ |title=Viasat starts ViaSat-4 development, mulls hybrid GEO-LEO-terrestrial connections|publisher=SpaceNews|author=Caleb Henry|date=9 August 2019|access-date=15 September 2020}} However, in February, 2021, ViaSat's CEO announced that the company did not expect to launch the first satellite until early 2022. It would then take several months for the satellite to be in full service, because of necessary testing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/business/2021/02/04/viasat-pushes-viasat-3-satellite-launch-to-2022/|title=Viasat Pushes ViaSat-3 Satellite Launch to 2022 - Via Satellite -|date=4 February 2021}}

By 2023, delays to the inaugural Ariane 6 launch prompted Viasat to cancel their contract with Arianespace and seek bids from other companies to launch the ViaSat-3 APAC satellite.

ViaSat-3 F1 launched on 1 May 2023 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, which successfully placed it into a near-geosynchronous orbit in the early hours of 1 May at an altitude of approximately 34,600 kilometers. Deployment of the antenna did not occur nominally and the satellite's performance was severely affected.{{cite web |title=Viasat Provides Status Update on ViaSat-3 Americas Satellite |url=https://news.viasat.com/newsroom/press-releases/viasat-provides-status-update-on-viasat-3-americas-satellite |website=viasat.com |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=12 July 2023}}{{cite news|last=Oguh|first=Chibuike|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/viasat-shares-near-record-daily-plunge-after-satellite-fails-deploy-2023-07-13/|title=Viasat shares near record daily plunge after satellite fails to deploy|website=Reuters |date=13 July 2023 }} Viasat triggered a $420 million claim, a space insurance underwriter described the situation to CNBC as a “market changing event” for the sector.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=2023-07-12 |title=Viasat stock plunges after company discloses malfunction in new satellite |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/12/viasat-stock-drops-after-satellite-malfunction.html |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=CNBC |language=en}} Viasat suffered its biggest one-day loss in share price following the news. In February 2024, Viasat announced that the crippled satellite is expected to enter commercial service in the second quarter of 2024 at less than ten percent of its 1 terabit per second capacity, and that a $421 million insurance claim had been filed.{{cite web |last=Rainbow |first=Jason |url=https://spacenews.com/viasat-preparing-to-start-services-from-hobbled-viasat-3-satellite/ |title=Viasat preparing to start services from hobbled ViaSat-3 satellite |work=SpaceNews |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=7 February 2024}}

The ViaSat-3 F2 satellite is currently scheduled to launch in the first half of 2025 on an Atlas V rocket.{{cite web |url=https://investors.viasat.com/static-files/23661166-46df-4fc3-b1a4-080526ab4065#:~:text=For%20Q3%20FY2024%2C%20net%20loss2,diverse%20businesses%20across%20attractive%20markets. |title=Viasat Shareholder Letter: Q3 Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=Viasat}} The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is expected to launch on a to-be-determined commercial launch vehicle.{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/04/30/viasat-seeks-replacement-for-ariane-6-for-launch-of-third-viasat-3-satellite/ |title=Viasat seeks replacement for Ariane 6 for launch of third ViaSat 3 satellite |work=Spaceflight Now |date=30 April 2023 |access-date=17 September 2023}}

References

Category:2023 in spaceflight

Category:Communications satellite constellations

Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit

Category:Communications satellites of the United States