ViaSat's ViaSat-3 F2 satellite fully deployed its reflector with Earth in the background. (Image credit: ViaSat) Earth watched on as a communications satellite deployed its big reflector more than 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) away. What is it? ViaSat-3 F2 launched to space on Nov. 13, 2025 atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. In the first few months after that, the telecommunications satellite made its way to geostationary orbit, which lies exactly 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above Earth. This is much farther away than low Earth orbit where the International Space Station lives, which extends to 1,200 miles (2,000 km) above Earth. As seen in this new image, the satellite has now not only reached geosynchronous orbit, but it has fully deployed its large reflector. This step is critical to the satellite's success, as the reflector will improve its overall broadband capacity, according to recent reports .…