SpaceX is preparing for the launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket next Monday, April 27, 2026, from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission will carry Viasat's ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The launch signifies the return to operation for SpaceX's most powerful rocket after a two-year hiatus.
Viasat, Inc. confirmed the launch date on April 20, 2026, stating that the 85-minute launch window will open at 10:21 a.m. EDT. A backup launch opportunity is available on Tuesday, April 28, with an 85-minute window commencing at 10:17 a.m. EDT.
The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is the final satellite in Viasat's three-satellite global broadband constellation. It is designed to expand Viasat's global network, providing over 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of throughput specifically for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, stated that ViaSat-3 F3 will significantly increase secure, reliable, and flexible capacity for customers in APAC, while also delivering greater bandwidth economics.
The Falcon Heavy rocket will deliver the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite to a more favorable transfer orbit, which is expected to facilitate a more efficient transfer to its final geostationary orbit. The satellite's electric propulsion system will then be utilized to position it into its reserved geostationary orbital slot. Following deployment, the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite will undergo several months of travel to geostationary orbit and rigorous in-orbit testing of both its bus and payload. Viasat anticipates the satellite will enter commercial service by late summer 2026.
While the Falcon Heavy's center core will be expended, SpaceX plans to return the side cores to Cape Canaveral. One side core is slated to land at the company's new landing pad at SLC-40, and the other at Landing Zone 2. The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite was built by Boeing at its El Segundo, California, manufacturing facility. Viasat, with a market capitalization of approximately $8.78 billion, operates in the technology sector, providing high-speed fixed and mobile broadband services.