Viasat-3 SpaceX Falcon Heavy

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Viasat-3 Americas payload on top stands upright at LC-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Seen on Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2023, the rocket was scheduled for a 7:29pm (ET) launch. Weather would end up delaying the launch to NET Friday, April 28, 2023.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

This image is from Saturday afternoon, caught by a sound-activated camera triggered by nearby thunder. That's the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, set to launch the Viasat-3 Americas payload at 7:29pm (ET) tonight.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff!! The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the Viasat-3 Americas payload took flight Sunday at 8:26pm (ET). Pictures don't do the scene justice -- this was a seriously pretty launch.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff!! The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the Viasat-3 Americas payload took flight Sunday at 8:26pm (ET). Pictures don't do the scene justice -- this was a seriously pretty launch.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff!! The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the Viasat-3 Americas payload took flight Sunday at 8:26pm (ET). Pictures don't do the scene justice -- this was a seriously pretty launch.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff! 5 million pounds of thrust, on display: Up close with the business end of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as it carried the Viasat-3 Americas payload to orbit Sunday. The 27 Merlin engines generate as much thrust as eighteen 747 aircraft. (📷: me / @WeReportSpace )

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff! 5 million pounds of thrust, on display: Up close with the business end of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as it carried the Viasat-3 Americas payload to orbit Sunday. The 27 Merlin engines generate as much thrust as eighteen 747 aircraft. (📷: me / @WeReportSpace )

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Liftoff!! The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the Viasat-3 Americas payload took flight Sunday at 8:26pm (ET). Pictures don't do the scene justice -- this was a seriously pretty launch.

Viasat3 Americas by SpaceX

Space lasers (x3), engage! This is 25-seconds of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the #ViaSat3Americas payload to space, launched Sunday night. Image captured by a sound-activated camera placed ~2,000 feet from the pad. This was by far my soggiest camera, having hung out there for 3 days during heavy storms and tornado warnings. My original plan was for a tighter shot, but during the camera reset opportunity Sunday morning the original lens was drenched, so I swapped it out with the backup lens, a 22mm (on a crop-sensor).