Atlas V Rocket Launches ViaSat-3 F2 Satellite After Delay

United Launch Alliance successfully launched the Atlas V rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite after a brief delay. The launch, which took place on November 6, followed a scrub due to a valve issue that occurred during the final checkouts, forcing ULA to postpone the mission by a day.

The Atlas V rocket, standing 196 feet tall and equipped with five solid rocket boosters, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:16 p.m. EST, during a 44-minute launch window. According to Spaceflight Now, the rocket produced approximately 2.7 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

Following the launch, the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite, which weighs about 13,000 pounds, was deployed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately three and a half hours after liftoff. This satellite is part of Viasat's ambitious ViaSat-3 series, which aims to enhance broadband connectivity across the Americas, adding over 1 terabit per second of capacity to the network.

Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, emphasized that the satellite's dynamic beamforming capabilities will allow for efficient bandwidth deployment to high-demand areas, thus enhancing performance for users.

The ViaSat-3 F2 satellite is expected to start service in early 2026 following extensive on-orbit testing. Notably, this launch marks the second satellite in the ViaSat-3 series, following the ViaSat-3 F1 which was launched earlier in 2023 but faced issues with its antenna.

As stated by Space.com, the third satellite in the series is anticipated to launch next year, completing the constellation designed to meet the increasing demand for high-capacity internet service across various sectors, including commercial and defense.

The Atlas V rocket has been a reliable workhorse for ULA, with over 100 successful missions since its debut in 2002, but it is set to be retired around 2030 as ULA transitions to the Vulcan Centaur rocket.