Update: November 6, 2023 - In a recent development, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has officially scrubbed the launch of the highly anticipated ViaSat-3 F2 satellite. The countdown for the Atlas 5 rocket was halted for the second consecutive night due to a persistent valve issue that has plagued the launch schedule.
The liftoff from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was initially slated for 10:16 p.m. EST (0316 UTC). However, the launch was called off as the issue with a vent valve on the Atlas 5’s first stage liquid oxygen tank remained unresolved. This valve malfunction had already caused a delay during a previous launch attempt on Wednesday night, prompting Launch Director James Whelan to halt the countdown.
Just over an hour before the launch window on Thursday opened, ULA announced that it would not proceed with the attempt. In a statement, the company confirmed, “The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 carrying the ViaSat-3 F2 mission for Viasat is scrubbed for tonight’s launch attempt due to a reoccurrence of the issue with the Atlas 5 booster liquid oxygen tank vent valve. The team will evaluate the hardware, and we will release a new launch date when available.”
At ULA’s Advanced Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC), located just four miles south of the launch pad, launch controllers initiated the countdown for Thursday’s attempt shortly before 3 p.m. EST. The liquid oxygen tank on the Centaur upper stage had successfully reached flight levels, and loading on the booster was underway when the scrub was called shortly after 9 p.m. EST.
Weather conditions played a role in the decision to scrub the launch, as thick clouds and rain showers prevailed over Cape Canaveral. Launch Weather Officer Brian Belson from the 45th Weather Squadron assessed the launch outlook, estimating a 50-50 chance of meeting the launch weather rules due to the overcast skies.
Housed within the rocket’s 5.4-meter diameter payload fairing, the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite weighs approximately 6 metric tons and is manufactured by Boeing. Once the mission is ready, the Atlas 5’s hydrogen-fueled Centaur upper stage will execute three burns, primarily utilizing its propellant to place the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit.
This launch marks the second satellite in the ViaSat-3 series, following the inaugural launch of the first spacecraft, ViaSat-3 F1, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket earlier this year. The first satellite experienced issues with its antenna, which delayed its service commencement and diminished its capacity.
Viasat officials have highlighted that the new ViaSat-3 F2 satellite will significantly enhance network capabilities, providing over 1 terabit per second (Tbps) of additional capacity across the Americas. Following several months of on-orbit testing at its designated location of 79 degrees West longitude, the ViaSat-3 F2 spacecraft is expected to commence operations in early 2026.
