EXHIBIT 5.1

                         OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

                                October 24, 2003

ViaSat, Inc.
6155 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, California 92009

                      Re:      Form S-8 Registration Statement; 1,500,000 Shares
                               of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  In connection with the registration by ViaSat, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), of 1,500,000 shares of common stock, par
value $.0001 per share (the "Shares"), of the Company to be issued pursuant to
The Second Amended and Restated 1996 Equity Participation Plan of ViaSat, Inc.
(the "1996 Plan"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 24, 2003 (as amended from time to time, the "Registration
Statement"), you have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set
forth below.

                  In our capacity as the Company's counsel in connection with
such registration, we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be
taken by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of
the Shares, and for the purposes of this opinion, have assumed such proceedings
will be timely completed in the manner presently proposed. In addition, we have
made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination
of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of
such documents, corporate records and instruments, as we have deemed necessary
or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

                  We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject
transaction only of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we
express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect
thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or any other laws, or as to any
matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any
state.

                  Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that as of the
date hereof the Shares have been duly authorized, and, upon the issuance of and
payment for the Shares in accordance with the terms set forth in the 1996 Plan,
the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           By: /s/ Latham & Watkins LLP