SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launched from Florida carrying the third ViaSat broadband satellite into orbit.
The rocket’s two side boosters successfully returned and landed after helping lift the payload, while the core stage was expended as planned.
The mission aims to place the satellite into geosynchronous orbit to deliver high-speed internet coverage over the Asia-Pacific region.
The new satellite is part of ViaSat’s global network of large, high-capacity relay stations built with partners including Boeing and Northrop Grumman, CBS News has reported.
The launch continues the expansion of competing global satellite internet systems alongside SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
