UAE-based Yahsat has signed agreements with Orbital Science and Arianespace for its third communications satellite, Al Yah 3.
Under the contract, Orbital Sciences will manufacture Al Yah 3, while Arianespace will launch the satellite into geostationary transfer orbit aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
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Orbital Science plans to design, manufacture and test the Al Yah 3 at its satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia.
Planned for launch in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Al Yah 3 will be based on Orbital’s GEOStar-3 satellite platform, and will have a design life of 15 years.
It will expand Yahsat’s Ka-band coverage to an additional 17 countries and 600 million users across Africa and Brazil.
Yahsat chairman Jassem Bu Ataba Al Zaabi said: "After a rigorous selection process of over two years that included majority of Yahsat international engineers, Yahsat has chosen two industry-leading organisations that will manufacture and launch our third satellite in late-2016."
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By GlobalDataOrbital chairman and CEO David Thompson said: "This project directly affects the development of the advanced technology industry in the UAE and our team is proud to help advance our customer’s goal.
"We look forward to working with the Yahsat team and welcome them into the family of GEOStar customers."
Orbital said that the GEOStar platform is designed for satellite missions that require up to 8kW of payload power.
The hybrid electric propulsion GEOStar-3-based spacecraft is claimed to offer better power and payload capabilities, while minimising the launch cost.
Image: An artist’s impression of the Al Yah 3 Ka-band communications satellite. Photo: courtesy of Al Yah Satellite Communication Company PJSC.
