[http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/12/viasat-1-launch.jpg](http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/viasat-1-sends-its-first-words-through-the-stratosphere-to-cooin/)
The [ViaSat-1](http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/viasat-1-moves-into-fixed-orbit-aims-its-broadband-ray-gun/) [story](http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/08/viasat-1-scheduled-to-launch-october-19th-spreading-high-speed/) seems to be orbiting its way toward a happy ending in time for Christmas. The world's highest capacity telecommunications satellite sent down its first words on December 2nd: sadly it didn't chime a romantic "Mommy!" but a somber collection of high-bandwidth video streams, emails and websites. It'll continue back-and-forth testing, probably sending back pictures of red firetrucks until mid-December, which is when the company will assume "full control" (handed over from Space Systems / Loral) of the orbiting router and begin prepping commercial service before the end of the year. At which point, it'll be available to cover the US, Canada and Hawaii with KA-Band broadband service with partners [WildBlue](http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/irl-wildblue-satellite-internet-international-charging-a-flas/), Xplornet and [JetBlue domestic flights](http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/jetblue-to-bring-ka-band-high-speed-internet-to-the-friendly-sk/).
Continue reading ViaSat-1 sends its first words through the stratosphere to cooing stateside relatives
ViaSat-1 sends its first words through the stratosphere to cooing stateside relatives originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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