Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced the successful launch of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) from Vandenburg Space Force Base.
The mission, led by Heosat, a subsidiary of Space Norway, will deploy two satellites in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO). It is the world’s first HEO mission to carry a payload for a commercial broadband service. The two satellites – ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 – will carry the Ka-band payloads GX10A and GX10B, which Viasat will use to extend the company’s global high-speed network to include dedicated coverage of the Arctic region.
The satellites will be launched into their orbits prior to engineering testing and integration. The GX10A and 10B payloads are expected to be operational in early to mid-calendar year 2025.
In the Arctic, the need for connectivity is growing rapidly as governments, commercial mobility customers and scientists continue to look north. Once operational, these new payloads will expand the coverage area covered by Viasat and further strengthen the company’s global coverage capabilities with dedicated capacity for the Arctic region.
Viasat is expanding its high-speed broadband capacity and capabilities for government and commercial mobility customers with five new Ka-band satellites currently under construction and scheduled to come online over the next few years.
Mark Dickinson, Head of Space Systems at Viasat, said: “We would like to thank Space Norway and our project partners for their continued hard work, collaboration and vision in making this project a reality. I would also like to thank our highly skilled experts. They will now focus on bringing these payloads into service and creating the flexibility, coverage and connectivity our customers need – wherever they operate.”
Kjell-Ove Skare, Program Director at Space Norway, said: “With the successful launch of the ASBM satellites, we have come a big step closer to providing broadband to civil, government and military users in the Arctic – which is the main reason for this mission. This common goal has been the driving factor for Viasat as well as for all parties involved in the ASBM program. It has truly been an excellent collaboration.”
