SpaceX to Launch Falcon Heavy on April 27, First Mission in 18 Months
SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 27, 2026, carrying the Viasat-3 F3 communications satellite. This marks the first flight of the heavy-lift vehicle in 18 months, since its last mission in late 2024.
The Viasat-3 F3 Mission
The payload for this launch is the Viasat-3 F3 communications satellite, operated by American satellite broadband provider Viasat. The satellite is designed to deliver high-speed broadband internet services globally, with coverage spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Viasat-3 series satellites feature a high-throughput architecture, with each satellite capable of delivering over 1 terabit per second — making them among the most advanced commercial communications satellites in operation.
The Viasat-3 F1 and F2 satellites were launched in 2023, covering the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions respectively. The deployment of F3 will complete the final piece of Viasat’s global broadband network.
Falcon Heavy’s Return
The Falcon Heavy is SpaceX’s most powerful operational launch vehicle, consisting of three Falcon 9 first-stage boosters strapped together, with a low Earth orbit capacity of 63.8 metric tons. Since its maiden flight in 2018, the rocket has executed several high-profile missions, including classified payloads for the U.S. Department of Defense.
However, as the Starship program has progressed, the Falcon Heavy’s launch frequency has declined significantly. SpaceX has redirected much of its engineering resources toward Starship testing and operations, leaving the Falcon Heavy dormant for the past 18 months.
According to Space.com, the Viasat-3 F3 launch window is scheduled for the morning of April 27 Eastern Time, offering a spectacular daytime liftoff. Multiple viewing sites around Kennedy Space Center have been opened to the public, with thousands of space enthusiasts expected to attend.
A Busy Weekend for Florida’s Space Coast
Notably, this launch is not the only rocket activity on Florida’s Space Coast this weekend. SpaceX also plans to execute a Falcon 9 nighttime launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, creating a rare “back-to-back” rocket launch scenario.
Space industry analysts note that this Falcon Heavy return flight is significant for maintaining the vehicle’s operational certification and the engineering team’s technical proficiency. Until Starship is fully operational for commercial missions, Falcon Heavy will remain SpaceX’s primary tool for heavy-payload deployments.
Viasat has stated that following a successful orbital insertion, the satellite will undergo several months of in-orbit testing and deployment procedures, with commercial service expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
Source: Space.com, SpaceX, Space Coast Daily