SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Boeing announced on Monday that it delivered the most powerful satellite platform the company has built to date, the 702MP+, a custom-designed spacecraft for network provider Viasat.
Upon embarking from the Boeing factory in California, ViaSat-3 Americas was flown to the Florida Space Coast where Boeing and Viasat teams will support launch and mission operations as the spacecraft prepares to travel to geostationary orbit, approximately 22,000 miles from Earth, the announcement said.
Once in orbit, ViaSat-3 Americas will be the first of three 702MP+ satellites to make up the ultra-high-capacity ViaSat-3 satellite constellation, designed to provide high-quality, affordable global connectivity and coverage.
"We designed, built and delivered the most powerful satellite platform we have ever provided to a customer. The result really is an engineering marvel," said Michelle Parker, vice president of Space Mission Systems at Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Boeing improved the platform's structure to support Viasat's large payload. The platform also accommodates the largest commercial satellite solar arrays Boeing-subsidiary Spectrolab has ever produced, along with batteries and supporting electronics, which generate well over 30 kw of solar power, according to the announcement.
"Working with Boeing, we're very excited to complete the ViaSat-3 Americas and bring us one step closer to providing higher speeds, more bandwidth, and greater value to our customers on a global scale whether they be on land, on the sea, or in the air," said Dave Ryan, president of Space & Commercial Networks, Viasat.
"The innovation of this satellite allows us new levels of flexibility to dynamically allocate capacity to the most attractive and engaged geographic markets," he added.
