ViaSat-1, the highest capacity satellite in the world, is designed to transform the economics and quality of service for satellite broadband.

With 140 Gbps total throughput capacity, the new satellite can serve the accelerating growth in bandwidth demand for multimedia Internet access over the next decade. The download and upload speeds available on ViaSat-1 will be much faster than anything previously offered in the satellite industry, and will transform the quality of satellite broadband.

The high-capacity Ka-band spot beam satellite covers North America and Hawaii, enabling a variety of new, satellite Internet access services beginning with WildBlue in the U.S. and Xplornet in Canada.

Then, later this year, the technology is also scheduled to begin delivering this new level of service to airline passengers aboard JetBlue Airways and Continental Airlines.

 Mission Update: At 6 am PT, January 16, the first three beams on ViaSat-1 went live. The commissioning of gateways and beams (typically sets of three) will continue for the next two months until the network is available to all covered areas.

Watch a replay of the launch.

Watch animations of the what it looks like as the satellite unfolds and is readied for operation.

ViaSat-1 blasts off from ILS launch base in Baikonur on schedule October 19. The satellite entered commercial service January 16.