[SatNews] The first satellite for ViaSat is in final preparations for its delivery to orbit by a Khrunichev built vehicle...

October 20th, Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhastan, is the site for the upcoming launch of the ViaSat-1 satellite aboard a Proton M/Breeze M launch vehicle. From Launch Pad 39, the Space Systems/Loral-manufactured 6,740kg satellite will head heavenwards. The craft's total capacity is in excess of 140 Gbps, more than all other communication satellites over North America combined. The all Ka-band spot beam ViaSat-1 is designed to transform the quality of satellite broadband service through a new system design that focuses on maximizing total bandwidth throughput. In this way, the cost per bit is reduced to a fraction of that provided by previous generation satellites, significantly changing the economics and performance of satellite communications. The satellite, to be located at 115 degrees West, will use 72 beams to cover 75 percent of the Continental United States, as well as the most populated areas of Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. ViaSat-1 has an anticipated service life of 15 years.



The Proton M launch vehicle will be using a five-burn Breeze M mission design. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the ViaSat-1 satellite) into a suborbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the ViaSat-1 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff. A live webcast at http://www.ilslaunch.com will start approximately 20 minutes before liftoff, which is scheduled for 00:48 Baikonur time (October 20th), 18:48 GMT (October 19th), 14:48 EDT (October 19th), 11:48 PDT (October 19th).