In a major return to heavy-lift missions, SpaceX is preparing to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time in 18 months on April 27.
The mission, Falcon Heavy’s 12th liftoff, is scheduled from Kennedy Space Center within an 85-minute launch window opening at 10:21 a.m. ET. The rocket will carry the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into orbit, with live coverage starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.
Falcon Heavy uses three modified boosters derived from the Falcon 9 rocket, generating around 5.1 million pounds of thrust at launch. This makes it the second-most powerful operational rocket after Space Launch System, while SpaceX’s Starship remains under development.
The rocket last flew in October 2024, when it launched NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. Since its debut in 2018, Falcon Heavy has completed 11 successful missions.
The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite, weighing 6.6 tons, will be deployed into geostationary orbit at an altitude of 35,786 km. From this position, it will deliver high-throughput broadband services across the Asia-Pacific region.
This satellite is the third in the ViaSat-3 constellation. Earlier launches include ViaSat-3 F1 in April 2023 and ViaSat-3 F2 in November 2025. Together, the satellites aim to provide global broadband coverage across aviation, commercial, defense, and consumer sectors.
Following liftoff, the two side boosters are expected to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station about 8 minutes after launch. The central booster will not be recovered and will fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
The upper stage will continue to carry the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with deployment planned approximately 5 hours after launch.
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