Overview
- The satellite lifted off Nov. 13 at 10:04 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-41 on an Atlas V 551 using five solid boosters and a three-burn Centaur to reach geosynchronous transfer orbit.
- Spacecraft separation occurred about three and a half hours after launch, and Boeing and Viasat reported established telemetry and command links.
- ViaSat-3 F2 will deploy solar arrays and large reflectors and use all‑electric propulsion to raise orbit to its geostationary slot near 79°W before in‑orbit testing.
- The Ka‑band satellite is designed for roughly terabit‑class capacity and is expected to significantly boost Viasat’s network, including a projected doubling of current fleet bandwidth over the Americas.
- Designated AV-100 and marking the 105th Atlas V mission, the flight followed a one‑week delay to replace a faulty liquid‑oxygen vent valve, with liftoff conditions favorable despite elevated solar activity risk.