The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission is set
to launch two satellites with SpaceX from Vandenberg Air
Force Base, California.
CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 21,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a
global leader in satellite communications, has announced the second
satellite in the upcoming Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission has
completed thermal vacuum testing at Northrop Grumman's Dulles, VA, site: a significant milestone as
the project looks to connect the Arctic region with high speed
broadband in the second half of 2024.
The mission, led by the Space Norway subsidiary Heosat, will see
two satellites deployed in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) in the
world's first HEO mission carrying a broadband commercial service
payload. The two satellites – ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 – will host
Viasat's GX-10a and GX-10b Ka-band payloads, extending Viasat's
high-speed global network across the Arctic region.
The spacecraft are designed to integrate as part of Viasat's
wider satellite fleet and extend the coverage of its Ka-band
network beyond that available from geostationary satellites. The
payloads will be Viasat's first in non-geostationary orbit and will
become a key element of its co-operative hybrid network. Once
launched, these new payloads will increase Viasat's fleet size to
20, with an additional eight under development.
The Arctic has rapidly growing connectivity needs to serve
governments, shipping companies, commercial airlines, and
scientists. In October 2023, the UK
Government's Environmental Audit Committee called for a greater
political focus on the region and further research into the
potential for environmental and economic impacts of changing
weather patterns. Alongside GX10a and b, the spacecraft will host
payloads for the Norwegian Armed Forces and the US Space Force.
Mark Dickinson, Head of Space
Systems, Viasat, said: "We have been talking with our
customers, partners, and shareholders about how the combination
with Inmarsat has given us a new scale and scope to deliver new
solutions to meet our customers' requirements. This is an example
of what that means in practice. The investment we've made in our
network is creating the flexibility, coverage, and interoperability
to meaningfully connect the world wherever and whenever our
customers need it – even if they happen to be standing on the North
Pole."
Space Norway Program Director, Kjell-Ove Skare, said: "With both
satellites through the thermal vacuum test we are really closing in
on making this strategically important capability real. We have
seen an unprecedented collaborative effort with Viasat, the US
Space Force, our Norwegian Armed Forces and with Northrop Grumman,
and are all looking forward to providing the first dedicated
broadband services to users in the real Arctic."
The ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 spacecraft will now undergo their final
testing and readiness activities. Once complete, they will be
transferred to Vandenberg Space Force
Base, California and
launched together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in mid-2024. The
company will share further details on the launch schedule once
confirmed.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our
mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and
militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is
developing the ultimate global communications network to power
high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to
positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground,
in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space.
On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its
acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and
resources of the two companies to create a new global
communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the
Viasat News Room or follow us on
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Copyright © 2023 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat,
the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and
in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company
names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may
be trademarks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements
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, among others, statements that refer to the GX10
program, including the coverage, features, availability and planned
timing of the ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 satellites. 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: our ability to realize the anticipated
benefits of the GX10a and b satellite payloads as part of the
Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission and any future satellite we may
construct or acquire; unexpected expenses related to our satellite
projects; our ability to successfully implement our business plan
for our broadband services on our anticipated timeline or at all;
risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of
satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational
failure or degradation in satellite performance; our ability to
successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products
and services; changes in the global business environment and
economic conditions; introduction of new technologies and other
factors affecting the communications industry generally; the effect
of adverse regulatory changes (including changes affecting spectrum
availability or permitted uses) on our ability to sell or deploy
our products and services; changes in the way others use spectrum;
our inability to access additional spectrum, use spectrum for
additional purposes, and/or operate satellites at additional
orbital locations; competing uses of the same spectrum or orbital
locations that we utilize or seek to utilize. In addition,
please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings
available at www.sec.gov, including our 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.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements for any reason.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.