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Cape Canaveral, Florida — SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket today (April 29, 2026), carrying the final satellite in Viasat’s ViaSat-3 constellation to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center occurred at 10:13 a.m. EDT (1413 UTC).

Liftoff of Falcon Heavy! pic.twitter.com/Lc1l0brLwK

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 29, 2026

This marked the 12th flight of the Falcon Heavy and the first in approximately 18 months. The mission, designated ViaSat-3 F3 (also referred to as the Asia-Pacific satellite), delivered a roughly 6- to 6.6-ton (about 6,000–6,400 kg) communications satellite designed to provide high-capacity broadband coverage across the Asia-Pacific region.

The three-core Falcon Heavy performed as planned. The two side boosters, which had flown on multiple prior missions (one with 21 previous flights including SDA Tranche 0, SARah-2/3, Transporter-11, and Starlink missions; the other with experience including the GOES-U launch), successfully landed at Landing Zones 2 and 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station about eight minutes after liftoff. The center core was expended and not recovered, consistent with the high-energy geosynchronous transfer orbit profile. Watch the incredible boosters landing in the video linked below.

Falcon Heavy’s side boosters have landed on LZ-2 and LZ-40! pic.twitter.com/aVRh7OCiLX

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 29, 2026

The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite separated from the upper stage approximately 4 hours and 57 minutes after launch. Viasat confirmed initial signal acquisition shortly afterward. The satellite will use its onboard electric propulsion to raise its orbit to geostationary altitude (approximately 22,236 miles or 35,786 km above Earth) over the coming months.

Deployment of @viasat-3 F3 confirmed pic.twitter.com/wGOrxGt8jh

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 29, 2026

This launch completes the ViaSat-3 constellation, following the ViaSat-3 Americas satellite launched on Falcon Heavy in 2023. The satellites are intended to deliver terabit-class broadband capacity.

The attempt on April 27 was scrubbed in the final minute due to unfavorable weather. Today’s launch proceeded smoothly within an 85-minute window.

The mission underscores Falcon Heavy’s capability to handle heavy payloads to high-energy orbits that few other operational rockets can manage.

Author’s note: Thanks for reading Cosmic Chronicles. Write your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have story suggestions or feedback, Direct Message me on social media 𝕏: Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo @JaneidyEve. Read the most recent stories featured below. Thank You.