ViaSat-2 Satellite Reaches Geostationary Orbit; Successfully Receives and Transmits First Data from Space
CARLSBAD, Calif., Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, announced today the ViaSat-2 satellite has successfully arrived in geostationary orbit at 69.9° west longitude, and has transitioned into orbit normal mode (earth pointing) with its reflector and radiator deployments now complete. The Company also confirmed the ViaSat-2 satellite has commenced in-orbit testing, including the key milestone of the first end-to-end system test, with the ViaSat-2 satellite transmitting and receiving data to and from the new Viasat ground segment.
ViaSat-2 was launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana, on June 1, 2017. The ViaSat-2 satellite employed a hybrid propulsion approach, using both traditional chemical as well as electric propulsion. The chemical propulsion subsystem was responsible for initial orbit raising and performed according to plan, setting the stage for the follow-on ascent to geostationary orbit using electric propulsion, which was completed last week. Viasat spacecraft partner, Boeing Satellite Systems International, controlled and monitored ViaSat-2 throughout the orbit raising process, flying the satellite from its Mission Control Center in El Segundo, California.
Following completion of the in-orbit tests, the ViaSat-2 satellite is scheduled to enter commercial service in February 2018, where it will enable the delivery of advanced residential, enterprise, government and in-flight internet services.
Successful Data Transmission from Space
Within days of reaching its geostationary orbit, the Viasat team was successfully transmitting data to and from the ViaSat-2 satellite, as well as streaming content providing an early demonstration of the satellite's power and flexibility. Watch the first few moments of contact here.
"This is a great achievement for the Viasat team, our customers and our partners," said Mark Dankberg, chairman and CEO, Viasat. "The ViaSat-2 system is the culmination of years of hard work and commitment to bringing a satellite platform to market that can deliver truly high-speed, high-quality broadband to many more people, and with a much greater geographic reach. We're another step closer to bringing the ViaSat-2 satellite into service."
About ViaSat-2
The ViaSat-2 satellite system is expected to significantly improve speeds, reduce costs and expand the footprint of broadband services across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and a portion of northern South America, as well as the primary aeronautical and maritime routes across the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. ViaSat-2 is a geostationary satellite that operates in Ka-band frequencies. It was designed to offer high-capacity connectivity and wide coverage, with the flexibility to move capacity to where demand requires it. As compared to ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2 is expected to double the bandwidth, with more than 300 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of total network capacity, as well as provide seven times the broadband coverage.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are--on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward Looking Statement
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 statements about the footprint and coverage area, flexibility to more capacity, scheduled date for entry into commercial service of the ViaSat-2 satellite and the timing thereof, as well as the anticipated benefits, performance, capacity, bandwidth economics, service speed and other features of the ViaSat-2 satellite. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the in-orbit testing and operation of the ViaSat-2 satellite, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite or ground segment performance, and the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the ViaSat-2 satellite. 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.
Copyright © 2017 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Viasat is a registered trademark of Viasat, Inc.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.
