ViaSat-2: Ready for Launch on June 1 from the Guiana Space Center

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global broadband services and technology company, today announced its ViaSat-2 satellite is in the final launch preparation stage at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. ViaSat-2 is scheduled to launch on June 1, at 4:45 pm PDT.

Launch Campaign
Following the arrival of the ViaSat-2 satellite in French Guiana, the satellite has undergone testing to verify its health prior to fueling; chemical fuel loading (ViaSat-2 has a hybrid propulsion system, which means it is using traditional chemical propulsion as well as electric propulsion); and the final process of mating ViaSat-2 to the launch vehicle. In the final process, ViaSat-2 was mated to the payload adapter, which holds the satellite to the rocket. All events have been successfully verified, allowing ViaSat-2 to be declared ready for launch. 

Launch
Launch has been scheduled for June 1, in a one hour launch window commencing at 4:45 pm PDT, and will take place from the Guiana Space Center located in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite will weigh 6,418 kg at launch, and will be sent into geostationary transfer orbit by the Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle. ViaSat-2 will be located at an orbital slot located at 69.9° west longitude.

The ViaSat-2 mission will take less than 30 minutes from liftoff to separation. Once the satellite separates from the rocket, the next major event will be acquisition, which is the point at which the satellite first communicates with, and accepts commands from a ground station. Acquisition is expected to occur approximately 15 minutes after separation. At that point, the mission can be considered successful.

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.

A live webcast of the launch will be available on June 1, 2017, starting at 4:30 pm PDT at: www.viasat.com and www.arianespace.com. For more information about ViaSat-2, visit: www.vs2launch.com.

About ViaSat
ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) keeps the world connected. As a global broadband services and technology company, ViaSat ensures consumers, businesses, governments and military personnel have communications access - anywhere - whether on the ground or in-flight. The Company's innovations in designing highest-capacity satellites and secure ground infrastructure and terminal technologies coupled with its international network of managed Wi-Fi hotspots enable ViaSat to deliver a best available network that extends the reach and accessibility of broadband internet service, globally. For more information visit ViaSat at:  www.viasat.com, or follow the Company on social media:  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and 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 launch, orbital slot placement and entry into service of the ViaSat-2 satellite and the timing thereof, as well as the anticipated benefits, performance, coverage, 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 launch, orbital slot placement, in-orbit testing and operation of the ViaSat-2 satellite, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite 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.

SOURCE ViaSat, Inc.