ViaSat-2

ViaSat-2
Mission type Communication
Operator ViaSat
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Boeing
Payload mass ~6,700 kg
Start of mission
Launch date Early 2017
Rocket Ariane 5
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary orbit
Orbiter

ViaSat-2 will be a commercial communications satellite which will be the world's highest capacity communications satellite after its launch in late 2016 with an estimated capacity of 350 Gb/s. It is the second Ka-band satellite launched by ViaSat after ViaSat-1. The satellite will provide satellite internet through Exede Internet to North America, parts of South America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean.

History

In May 2013, ViaSat gave the construction contract of the satellite to Boeing.[1] On May 1, 2014 ViaSat sold capacity on the satellite to Xplornet Communications.[2][3] In January 2015, ViaSat gave the launch contract to SpaceX in an uncontested auction.[4] After SpaceX CRS-7 exploded after launch in June 2015, concerns arose that the investigation may affect the mission's launch window.[5][6] On February 9, 2016 Arianespace announced it had won contracts to launch Viasat-2 and Viasat-3 in 2017 and 2019, respectively.[7]

Functionality

The satellite, currently estimated to cost $625 million is planned to have about 2.5 times the capacity of the ViaSat-1's 140 Gb/s link or 350 Gb/s.[8] It will use Ka-band frequencies in a spot beam design.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ViaSat Announces Next Generation Broadband Satellite". ViaCom. May 16, 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "Xplornet Acquires Canadian Capacity on ViaSat-2 Satellite". May 1, 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ↑ Henry, Caleb (October 2, 2014). "Xplornet Charts Path to 100 Mbps Broadband Speed Using HTS". Satellite Today. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Selding, Peter (November 14, 2014). "ViaSat-2 Launch Contract Goes to SpaceX as Arianespace Sits out Competition". Space News. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Falcon 9 failure deals blow to inflight high-speed Internet schemes". Runway Girl Network. June 28, 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Davenport, Christian (June 28, 2015). "SpaceX’s rocket just exploded. Here’s why that’s such a big deal.". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Arianespace to Launch Two ViaSat High Capacity Satellites - Arianespace". Arianespace. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  8. ↑ Selding, Peter (January 7, 2016). "ViaSat Goes on the Offensive over GoGo’s Speed Claims". Space News. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Selding, Peter (May 17, 2013). "ViaSat-2’s ‘First of its Kind’ Design Will Enable Broad Geographic Reach". Space News. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
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