A long-exposure photo shows a trail left by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket while launching the ViaSat-3 Americas satellite from Florida on April 30, 2023.
Viasat
Viasat‘s stock dropped in after-hours trading on Wednesday after the company disclosed its most recently launched communications satellite suffered a malfunction.
The Carlsbad, California-based company said an “unexpected event occurred” while deploying the reflector of its Viasat-3 Americas satellite “that may materially impact” performance. The satellite launched successfully in April on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket.
“We’re disappointed by the recent developments,” Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg said in a statement.
Shares of Viasat fell as much as 21% in extended trading from its previous close at $42.98 a share.
Viasat did not disclose the identity of the reflector’s manufacturer in its release. Dankberg said his company is “working closely” with the manufacturer to resolve the problem. A Viasat spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the manufacturer is a top aerospace