Posted on 11/04/2025 1:00:45 PM PST by jacknhoo
An Atlas V 551 rocket, configured with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a standard-length payload fairing, will utilize several launch optimization features to place the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The craft is one of the heaviest single-satellite payloads. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Launch Readiness Review completed The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) is GO for Wednesday’s liftoff of the United Launch Alliance commercial Atlas V rocket with one of the most sophisticated and powerful commercial communications satellites — the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 ultra-high-capacity broadband spacecraft.
The LRR, led by ULA Launch Director James Whelan, was completed this morning at the Advanced Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC).
Leadership from ULA, Viasat and Space Force assessed the readiness of the rocket, payload, mission assets and tracking support, discussed the status of pre-flight processing work, heard technical overviews of the countdown and flight, and previewed the weather forecast that projects a 95 percent chance of meeting the launch rules.
At the conclusion of the meeting, senior leaders were polled and gave a ready status for launch, then signed the Launch Readiness Certificate.
The Atlas V rocket, designated AV-100, stands 196 feet (59.7 meters) tall and will launch the payload into an elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). At liftoff, the rocket generates a combined thrust of 2.7 million pounds (12 megaNewtons) from its main engine and five solid rocket boosters.
ULA will offer live reports from launch control in our automatically refreshing blog beginning Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EST (0030 UTC). The launch webcast starts at L-20 minutes.
The forecast calls for a temperature of 80°F, overcast clouds, 100% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.
Launch Forecast Summary:
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 5% Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule 24 hour back up: overall probability of violating weather constraints: 10% Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule
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ViaSat-3
Ultra-high-capacity satellites
ViaSat-3 F2 is launching soon
https://www.viasat.com/about/technology/satellite-fleet/viasat-3/
its gonna blow up on launch just watch
I’ll watch if I’m still awake.
F1 would have been perfect if not for the #%*! Third party reflector. Hope this one is clean so I can retire before I’m dead.
Yeah, that was Lockheed Martin’s reflector design if I’m not mistaken.
I was gonna say I hope someone bought insurance🎆
What could go wrong?
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