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.