Yahsat, the UAE-based satellite operator, and Orbital ATK [NYSE: ORB] today announced that they have completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Al Yah 3 spacecraft and payload.
Yahsat senior management were in Virginia, USA with its partner Orbital ATK, and Yahsat’s team of engineers embedded at the facilities for this project, to complete the review and oversee this critical moment that represented the final stage before assembling all components of the satellite together.
Al Yah 3, which is based on Orbital’s GEOStar-3™ platform, is an all Ka-band High Throughput Satellite being designed, manufactured and tested at Orbital ATK’s satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, VA.
The CDR is conducted during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, and completion of this indicates that all specifications and requirements have been captured into the overall final design of the satellite.
Marcus Vilaça, Acting Chief Technical Officer at Yahsat said, “We have now locked in the final design details of our newest satellite. The information presented at the CDR confirms compliance to our system specifications, with healthy margins on all of the key parameters. As we move to the spacecraft integration phase, I am confident that we are on track to launch as per schedule.”
“The successful completion of the Al Yah 3 CDR is an important milestone for the program and for Orbital ATK’s GEOStar 3 platform which includes capabilities to support payload powers up to 7.5kW, advanced avionics and electric propulsion. We look forward to continuing a close working relationship with Yahsat as we move on to the manufacturing and test phase of the program.” said Al Lewis, Vice President of Program Management for Orbital ATK’s Commercial Satellite Division.
Once the new satellite is operational, Yahsat’s Ka-band coverage footprint will be significantly expanded, bringing high-speed, affordable satellite broadband services to the Brazilian and African consumer and enterprise markets, as well as economic, high data-rate backhaul links for ISPs and telecommunications operators.
About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC, “Yahsat”
Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions (government and commercial) for broadband, broadcast, government, and communications use across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe in addition to Central and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company, the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer multi-purpose ka-band satellite services including:
YahClick – offers satellite internet for home and business
YahService – offers managed solutions and government capacity
YahLink – offers IP trunking solutions, corporate networking and backhauling capacity
Yahlive – a joint venture between Yahsat and SES, offers premium services to broadcasters and a select choice of TV channels
Yahsat’s first satellite Y1A was successfully launched in April 2011, and the company’s second satellite Y1B was successfully launched in April 2012. Yahsat has announced the manufacturing of its third satellite, Al Yah 3, planned for delivery in Q4 2016, with services to be rolled out early 2017, extending their commercial Ka-band coverage to an additional 17 markets reaching 60% of Africa and over 95% of Brazil’s population, marking the company’s first entry in to Brazil.
For more information visit www.yahsat.ae or www.mubadala.ae
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs more than 12,000 people in 20 states across the U.S. and in several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
