18 April 2012
• Y1B, the second communications satellite for Yahsat, will
be orbited by a Proton launcher from Baikonur on 24 April
2012
• Y1B will complete the UAE's state-of-the-art satellite
communications network for both commercial and governmental
users
• Astrium and Thales Alenia space are co-prime contractors
on this major contract for the UAE
April 18, 2012 - Y1B, the second satellite of the
United Arab Emirates' space communications programme is
ready to be launched on a Proton launcher from Baikonur in
Kazakhstan.
Comprising two satellites and a ground segment, the Yahsat
project is a complete commercial and military satellite
communications system built by Astrium and Thales Alenia
Space (TAS) for the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company
(Yahsat). Based in the UAE, Yahsat is a satellite
communications operator and a pioneer in the field across
the Middle East, Africa, South West Asia and Europe. The
Yahsat system will offer innovative commercial solutions,
including HDTV broadcasting, internet trunking via
satellite, corporate data networks, and internet services
for public and private users, as well as secure
communications.
Astrium is responsible for the final integration of the two
satellites and for delivery in orbit. Thales Alenia Space
provided the payloads and is responsible for the space
segment, including the launch of the satellites.
Astrium Services, with its partner Thales Alenia Space, is
responsible for the ground segment, which comprises a
network of ground terminals, and for a management system
which provides remote control of all system hardware.
Astrium Services, in association with Thales Communication
and Security, is also in charge of operating this system,
providing ground segment maintenance and of training
Emirati operators over a five-year period.
Y1B will deliver communications in Ka-band for both
commercial and governmental users. It will provide
high-data rate internet services for public and private
users in the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia with
state-of-the-art Ka-band multi spot-beam technology,
achieving cost-effective bandwidth supply through 61 narrow
spot beams. The governmental mission will bring a
substantial increase in the total capacity available for
the UAE secure communications over the Middle East,
complementing the Y1A satellite.
With a launch mass of approximately 6,000 kg and a
spacecraft power of 14 kW, Y1B has a design lifetime of
more than 15 years. Like Y1A, Y1B was integrated by Astrium
on a Eurostar E3000 platform and tested at its Toulouse
site. More than 50 Eurostar satellites have now been
launched and have accumulated over 400 years of successful
in-orbit operation. Both commercial and military Ka-band
payloads were built with state-of-the-art Ka-band multi
spot-beam technology from Thales Alenia Space. Early orbit
phase operations will be conducted by Astrium from its
spacecraft control centre in Toulouse.
About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC
(Yahsat)
Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions
(government and commercial) for broadband, broadcast,
military communications use across the Middle East, Africa
and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, and wholly owned
by Mubadala, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East
and Africa to offer multi-purpose satellite services:
• YahClick - the satellite broadband service
• YahSecure - the government satellite service
• YahLink - the satellite connectivity service
• YahService - end to end satellite solutions
• YahCarrier - satellite solutions for telecommunications
carriers
Yahsat's first satellite Y1A was successfully launched in
April 2011, and is preparing to launch its second satellite
Y1B in April 2012 (www.yahsat.ae).
About Thales Alenia Space
The European leader in satellite systems and a major player
in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint
venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales
Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups' "Space
Alliance". Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in
solutions for space telecommunications, radar and optical
Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and
science. With consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion euros in
2011, Thales Alenia Space has 7,200 employees at 10
industrial sites in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and
Belgium.
www.thalesaleniaspace.com
Thales Alenia Space Press Contact
Sandrine Bielecki - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
Tarik Lahlou - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 68 45
tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com
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