From Coast to Coast: Viasat-3 Americas Mission to Expand High-Speed Internet Access Across the Continent
Introduction to the Viasat-3 Americas Mission Viasat-3 Americas is a high-throughput satellite that provides broadband internet service to the United States and Canada. The spacecraft was built by Space Systems Loral (SSL), based on their SSL-1300 platform, and launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on August 24th, 2018. It will operate from 83 degrees West longitude over North America with an orbital inclination of 0 degrees relative to Earth's equator. The purpose of this mission is to provide Internet access for rural customers who do not currently have reliable access or cannot afford traditional broadband options like cable or DSL services; it will also serve as backup for Viasat's existing fleet of geostationary satellites serving these regions (Viasat 1 through 4). Viasat-3 Americas Launch and Design The Viasat-3 Americas mission is a multi-satellite launch that will include two satellites and one ground spare. The two ope...