Success for ViaSat-3 F3
April 30, 2026
By Chris Forrester
Viasat’s important third member of its F3 fleet is in orbit and ground technicians have acquired signals from the satellite.
This very much ‘next generation’ craft completes Viasat’s new orbital fleet and once brought into use ViaSat-3 F3 will significantly expand capacity. The satellite is designed to deliver 1 Tb/s of capacity and will be used over the Asia-Pacific region once in-orbit testing is completed.
Viasat confirmed the successful launch and initial signal acquisition of the ViaSat-3 Flight 3 (F3) satellite. The satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle’s upper stage just under five hours after liftoff, with initial signals acquired minutes later, confirming the satellite is healthy in orbit and ready for the next phase of operations.
ViaSat-3 F3 had lifted off on April 29 at 10:13 a.m. EDT aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
ViaSat-3 F3 leverages innovative payload design and advanced beam-forming technology to optimize and steer immense capacity in real time, maximizing spectral efficiency and enabling bandwidth to be concentrated where demand and returns are highest. The satellite’s efficient, flexible bandwidth deployment capabilities are a significant differentiator for commercial mobility and defense customers as demand for resilient, high-quality satellite communication services (SATCOM) continue to accelerate.
ViaSat-3 F3 completes Viasat’s next generation ViaSat-3 satellite constellation and marks a key milestone in the company’s global, multi-orbit network strategy. With ViaSat-3 F1 in service since 2024 and ViaSat-3 F2’s in-orbit testing advancing, the launch of F3 positions Viasat to further scale global capacity and performance.
“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.”
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