Viasat Confirms ViaSat-3 F3 Satellite to Launch April 27, 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) confirmed ViaSat-3 F3 will launch April 27, 2026, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, with an 85-minute window opening at 10:21 a.m. EDT.
ViaSat-3 F3 is intended to provide >1 Tbps of throughput covering the Asia-Pacific region, will take several months to reach geostationary orbit, and is expected to enter service by late summer 2026 after in-orbit testing.
Positive
- Constellation complete once ViaSat-3 F3 enters service
- >1 Tbps regional throughput targeted for APAC
- Service expected by late summer 2026
- Falcon Heavy delivery to favorable transfer orbit reduces time to orbit
Negative
- Several months of post-launch transit and rigorous in-orbit testing
- Reflector deployment on F2 impacted by spring eclipse season
- Launch window is subject to change, creating scheduling risk
News Market Reaction – VSAT
In the Apr 20 session, VSAT gained 1.96%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 | Avionics evaluation | Positive | +0.8% | Boeing technical evaluation for Viasat AERA antenna on key aircraft lines. |
| Mar 02 | Connectivity partnership | Positive | +3.2% | HARMAN collaboration to enable in-cabin voice calls over satellite networks. |
| Mar 02 | D2D infrastructure update | Positive | +3.2% | Space42 partnership update on Equatys multi-tenant D2D satellite constellation. |
| Feb 25 | Tech demonstration | Positive | -0.5% | MWC demo of satellite-enabled voice calling for connected vehicles with partners. |
| Feb 11 | Ground station sale | Positive | +0.7% | Sale of two multi-band ground antennas to expand RTE GSaaS coverage. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent partnership and technology announcements have generally seen modestly positive 24-hour reactions, with one small divergence despite constructive news.
Over the last few months, Viasat has focused on partnerships and infrastructure expansion. On Feb 11, 2026, it sold advanced S/X/Ka-band antennas to Astralintu to extend Real-Time Earth coverage. At Mobile World Congress on Feb 25 and Mar 2, 2026, it highlighted satellite-enabled voice calling and the Equatys D2D satellite initiative, both tied to future connectivity markets. On Mar 2, 2026, Viasat also announced a collaboration with HARMAN, and on Apr 14, 2026 it entered Boeing’s technical evaluation for Viasat AERA. Today’s ViaSat-3 F3 launch confirmation continues this infrastructure build-out trajectory.
Key Terms
throughput technical
falcon heavy technical
launch window technical
transfer orbit technical
electric propulsion technical
geostationary orbit technical
orbital slot technical
in-orbit testing technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Final satellite in the ViaSat-3 constellation is designed to expand Viasat's global network with more than 1 Tbps of throughput over the Asia-Pacific region
- ViaSat-3 F2 in-orbit testing advancing
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today confirmed the scheduled launch date of its ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is April 27, 2026, during an 85-minute launch window opening at 10:21 a.m. EDT*. The satellite will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Launching on a Falcon Heavy rocket reduces time to orbit by delivering the satellite to a more favorable transfer orbit where the satellite’s electric propulsion will take over to place ViaSat-3 F3 in geostationary orbit. Following launch, the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite will spend several months traveling to geostationary orbit before arriving at its reserved orbital slot. It will go through rigorous in-orbit testing of both the bus and payload before entering service, expected to occur by late summer 2026. The ViaSat-3 satellites are each designed to provide regional coverage, with ViaSat-3 F3 expected to cover the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
"ViaSat-3 F3 will substantially increase capacity that is secure, reliable and highly flexible for customers operating in APAC while delivering greater bandwidth economics," said Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO, Viasat. "Once ViaSat-3 F3 is in service, the completed ViaSat-3 constellation will become a cornerstone of our unified, global, high-capacity network, as we move forward with a focus on sustained reductions in capital intensity and defining a common lower mass multi-orbit, multi-band satellite architecture that can be adapted for broadband or mobile satellite services with strong sovereign communications capability."
The ViaSat-3 satellites are designed with state-of-the-art technology to maximize efficient, flexible bandwidth deployment and provide enhanced performance for commercial mobility, fixed services and defense customers. ViaSat-3 F3 will complete the constellation, introducing new functional capabilities including new forms of resilience for our US and international government customers. ViaSat-3 F1 entered service in 2024. ViaSat-3 F2 in-orbit testing is advancing with the reflector successfully completing bloom. The reflector deployment progression was impacted by operational constraints imposed by the spring eclipse season, which has now concluded. We expect final deployments to be completed over the next several weeks.
Visit the Viasat website for more information about the ViaSat-3 constellation and spacex.com/launches/viasat3f3 for more details around the upcoming launch.
*Launch window subject to change
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube.
Copyright © 2026 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Viasat, Inc. Contacts
Dan Bleier/Scott Goryl, Corporate Communications, PR@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, +1 (760) 476-2633, IR@viasat.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward looking statements include among others, statements about the performance, capabilities and anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 class satellites, including projected capacity, coverage and flexibility; and the timing of service entry of the ViaSat-3 F2 and ViaSat-3 F3 satellites. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of the ViaSat-3 class satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-3 satellite platforms; unexpected expenses or delays related to the satellite system; the ability to successfully implement Viasat's business plan for broadband satellite services on Viasat's anticipated timeline or at all, including with respect to the ViaSat-3 satellite platform; contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues; technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the connectivity sector, generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
