US Satellite Communications Provider Viasat Deploys Reflector and Boom on Third ViaSat-3 Satellite

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Viasat confirmed on July 22 that the main boom and ultra-large reflector of its third ViaSat-3 broadband satellite (VS-3 F3) have been successfully mechanically deployed. Visual verification provided by onboard cameras confirmed that the high-capacity spacecraft completed the deployment sequence, passing a key engineering milestone before the full satellite integration and testing.

This deployment completes the structural assembly sequence for the third and final high-capacity geostationary satellite in Viasat's next-generation global fleet. The spacecraft was launched on April 29, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center and will operate in a network with the first ViaSat-3 satellite covering North America and the second ViaSat-3 satellite covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The deployment of the giant deployable antenna reflector is one of the most complex mechanical operations in the on-orbit maneuvering of this 1 terabit per second (1 Tbps)-class satellite. The reflector payload design focuses dynamic Ka-band spot beams on high-density maritime, commercial aviation, and fixed broadband corridors. Structural alignment of the flexible mesh reflector antenna and boom assembly was confirmed through real-time onboard optical sensors and telemetry, with its operational configuration supporting precise beamforming procedures to dynamically allocate network capacity in key coverage areas.

With structural deployment complete, the Viasat engineering team has initiated formal on-orbit payload and platform performance checks. The satellite will undergo diagnostic testing and orbit-raising operations over the coming months, followed by the commencement of commercial service in the Asia-Pacific region later this year.