SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched on April 29, 2026, carrying the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This launch marks the 12th flight of the Falcon Heavy since its debut in 2018 and demonstrates the rocket’s capabilities in providing advanced communications.
The Falcon Heavy, standing 70 metres tall and using 27 Merlin engines, lifted off at 10:13 a.m. EDT with an impressive thrust of 5 million pounds. Approximately 2.5 minutes after liftoff, the two side boosters separated from the central core, which continued its mission to place the satellite into orbit. The side boosters safely returned to Earth, making landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The successful deployment of the satellite occurred nearly five hours after launch, following a series of engine burns to guide it to its designated orbit. The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite is the final member of the ViaSat-3 constellation, which aims to enhance broadband capacity, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. It is expected to add over one Terabit per second of capacity to the existing network.
Dave Abrahamian, Vice President at Viasat, highlighted the significance of this launch, noting the improvements in satellite technology over the past decade. The new satellites offer more flexibility than traditional models, allowing for better service across regions as demand changes. Following the launch, the satellite will undergo a two-month process to reach its operational position in orbit.
