Yahsat Y1A satellite delivered in orbit

Y1A communications satellite handed over to Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space

In-orbit delivery complete

Toulouse, - After the successful completion of in-orbit testing the satellite Y1A, was officially handed over to Yahsat on 13 June 2011.

Y1A is the first satellite built for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company. It is the first part of a fully integrated satellite communications system, comprising the Y1A and Y1B satellites and ground segment, developed by an industrial team of Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.

Astrium supplied the Eurostar E3000 platform, and assembled and tested the spacecraft while Thales Alenia Space supplied the communications payloads.

The Launch and Early Orbit Phase was carried out from the Astrium Toulouse Control Centre and the In-Orbit Testing from the Yahsat Control Centre in Abu Dhabi backed-up by the staff at Astrium in Toulouse. Yahsat has invested in training UAE nationals to take control of the satellite operations. Based in the Abu Dhabi Control Centre, these engineers are part of Yahsat’s highly experienced satellite operations team.

Y1A will provide satellite communications services for both governmental and commercial customers in the Middle-East, Africa, Europe and South West Asia. It offers a wide portfolio of voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions designed to accommodate the demand for emerging applications in the satellite industry including HDTV and other satellite services.

Y1A is equipped with a communications payload featuring 14 active transponders in C-band, 25 Ku BSS transponders and a Ka-band government payload. The system includes gateways in C-, Ku- and Ka-bands, and a large number of ground terminals.

The second satellite, Y1B, is currently in the final integration phase in Astrium Toulouse, where it is undergoing environment simulation tests associated with the extreme conditions it will face during launch and in space.



About Astrium

Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services.

In 2010, Astrium had a turnover of €5 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and Astrium Services for comprehensive end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, bespoke geo-information and navigation services worldwide.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.