— SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center at 10:13 a.m. ET carrying the ViaSat‑3 F3 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The company began its official webcast on X at 9:56 a.m. ET and has posted a detailed post‑liftoff timeline; boosters are expected to touch down at Cape Canaveral roughly eight minutes after liftoff, producing audible sonic booms. Weather forecasts from the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron show a 90% chance of favorable conditions for the window.
Key Takeaways
- Scheduled liftoff: 10:13 a.m. ET on April 28, 2026, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
- Booster recovery: Side boosters will return to Cape Canaveral Landing Zones 2 and 40, with landing burns beginning around T+7:41 and touchdown near T+7:58–T+8:13.
- Mission timeline: Key in‑flight events include Max Q at 00:01:09, fairing separation at 00:04:17, and first SECO at 00:08:13; ViaSat‑3 F3 deployment is slated for 04:57:31.
- ViaSat‑3 constellation: F1 launched May 2023 (Falcon Heavy), F2 launched Nov. 2025 (ULA Atlas V); F3 is the most powerful of the trio and aims to add >1 Tbps capacity to the Asia‑Pacific region.
- Vehicle reuse: One side booster flew SDA‑0A, SARah‑2, Transporter‑11 and 18 Starlink missions; the other flew GOES‑U in June 2024.
- Countdown: Propellant loading and engine chill follow a tightly scripted timeline beginning roughly 53 minutes before liftoff; a failure to meet those milestones would delay the attempt.
- Local readiness: Brevard County Emergency Management activated launch operations support ahead of the event to coordinate public safety and road closures.
Background
The Falcon Heavy pairs three Falcon 9‑class cores to deliver heavier payloads or higher mass to distant orbits. SpaceX routinely recovers side boosters for reuse; this mission will land those boosters at Cape Canaveral Landing Zones 2 and 40 rather than side‑by‑side, a change in recovery pattern relative to some previous Falcon Heavy flights. Reuse of cores keeps launch costs lower and supports a higher flight cadence for commercial and government customers.
The payload, ViaSat‑3 F3, is the third satellite in Viasat’s Ka‑band high‑capacity constellation intended to serve global broadband demand. VS‑3 F1 was launched in May 2023 on a Falcon Heavy and serves airline connectivity customers; VS‑3 F2 launched in November 2025 on a ULA Atlas V and carries roughly twice the power of F1. Viasat says F3 will be the most powerful of the three and is expected to add greater than 1 Tbps of throughput concentrated on the Asia‑Pacific region.
Main Event
SpaceX’s live coverage began at 9:56 a.m. ET on X (formerly Twitter), with commentators and countdown telemetry visible online. The company’s prelaunch sequence follows a precise cadence: at T‑53:00 the launch director verifies go for propellant load; RP‑1 and LOX loading windows begin between T‑50:00 and T‑35:00; and engine chill for the Falcon Heavy begins at T‑07:00. At T‑00:59 the flight computer starts final prelaunch checks and the launch director provides the final go/no‑go at T‑00:45.
After liftoff, the mission timeline SpaceX published sets out a dense sequence of events. Max Q (peak aerodynamic stress) is expected at 00:01:09, side booster engine cutoff (BECO) at 00:02:21 followed by separation at 00:02:25 and a flip maneuver at 00:02:30. The side boosters should perform boostback burns roughly between 00:02:41 and 00:03:47, with first stage main engine cutoff (MECO) at 00:03:50 and stage separation at 00:03:54.
Recovery and upper‑stage operations continue minutes and hours later: fairing separation is slated for 00:04:17, side booster entry and landing burns occur between 00:06:28 and about 00:07:58 with touchdown at Cape Canaveral near T+7:58. The second stage resumes multiple burns—SES‑2 at 00:26:05 with SECO‑2 at 00:27:33, and a third sequence beginning at 04:47:47—culminating in the targeted ViaSat‑3 F3 deployment at 04:57:31.
Analysis & Implications
Operationally, a successful Falcon Heavy launch and booster recovery would reinforce SpaceX’s reuse model for heavy‑lift missions, demonstrating that previously flown side cores (including ones with long service histories) can support high‑value national and commercial payloads. The differing recovery profile—separate LZs instead of side‑by‑side landings—reflects mission‑specific trajectory and downrange constraints rather than a permanent change to landing practice.
For Viasat, F3’s addition promises a sizeable jump in throughput for the Asia‑Pacific market. Adding more than 1 Tbps of capacity would help close gaps in maritime, airborne and terrestrial broadband coverage, but the practical user benefit will depend on ground gateway upgrades, regulatory clearances in regional markets and commercial agreements with service providers.
Local economic and safety considerations are tangible. Sonic booms from booster re‑entries and landings can produce disturbances for coastal communities; Brevard County’s activation of emergency‑operations support reflects standard coordination to manage road closures, public notifications and potential search and rescue assets. Insurance, frequency coordination and orbital‑debris assessments also factor into the broader risk calculus for high‑throughput GEO satellites.
Comparison & Data
| Satellite | Launch Vehicle | Launch Date | Relative Power/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS‑3 F1 | Falcon Heavy | May 2023 | Provides airline in‑flight internet; baseline of constellation |
| VS‑3 F2 | ULA Atlas V | Nov. 2025 | ~2× power of F1 |
| VS‑3 F3 | Falcon Heavy | Apr. 28, 2026 (this mission) | Most powerful; adds >1 Tbps to Asia‑Pacific |
The table shows the fleet’s launch history and relative on‑orbit capability. F3’s deployment completes the trio and is the step that Viasat expects will materially change its throughput footprint in targeted regions. Understanding end‑user impact requires tracking gateway deployments and retail plans that will come after orbital testing and commissioning.
Reactions & Quotes
SpaceX’s livestream framed the attempt as a routine but high‑stakes commercial mission with reuse elements front and center; the company emphasized telemetry availability and a play‑by‑play timeline for viewers.
“The webcast provides live telemetry and commentary as we proceed through the documented timeline and recovery operations.”
SpaceX (webcast)
The Space Force weather office briefly summarized launch weather, stressing favorable parameters for today’s window. Their forecast informed both flight‑controller risk assessments and local public notices.
“Forecasts show a 90% chance of favorable conditions for the launch window.”
45th Weather Squadron (US Space Force)
Brevard County said it activated launch operations support to coordinate safety and public communications as the mission approaches liftoff and booster landings near populated areas.
“We have activated the county launch operations support team to coordinate resources and public notifications around the scheduled liftoff and expected sonic booms.”
Brevard County Emergency Management (official)
Unconfirmed
- Any last‑minute changes to landing zone assignments due to wind or range constraints would be confirmed only in real time by SpaceX; such adjustments have occurred on past missions but are not indicated in prelaunch materials.
- Precise in‑orbit commissioning timeline for ViaSat‑3 F3 (gateway activation and customer rollouts) has not been publicly dated beyond generic post‑deployment testing windows.
Bottom Line
Today’s Falcon Heavy launch from Kennedy Space Center is a high‑visibility commercial mission that pairs SpaceX’s heavy‑lift and booster‑reuse capabilities with Viasat’s push to expand global broadband capacity. The mission follows a tightly choreographed sequence of fueling, engine chill and staged burns; any deviation in those prelaunch milestones would push the attempt to a later slot.
If successful, the flight will complete the ViaSat‑3 trio in GEO and materially increase capacity over the Asia‑Pacific region, while reinforcing SpaceX’s model of reusing previously flown cores even on premium payloads. Residents near Cape Canaveral should expect sonic booms near booster landing times and follow local public‑safety guidance issued by Brevard County.