Orbital ATK-Built Al Yah 3 Commercial Communications Satellite in Good Health
January 26 2018 - 10:23AM
Business Wire
Company Establishes Contact with Satellite
after Launch Deviation
Orbital ATK and Yahsat Teams Working To
Place Satellite into Intended Orbit
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced the Al Yah 3 commercial
communications satellite, built by the company for Al Yah Satellite
Communications Company (Yahsat) PrJSC, is in good health after a
launch deviation occurred shortly after liftoff on January 25 from
Kourou, French Guiana. The launch is a key milestone in Yahsat’s
strategy to expand its Ka-band coverage across Africa and to
establish a presence in Latin America.
The mission experienced some challenges during the launch stages
which resulted in the Al Yah 3 satellite being inserted into an
orbit that differed from the flight plan. The satellite was
successfully acquired by the Orbital ATK mission operations team
and is healthy and operating nominally. A revised flight plan will
be executed in order to achieve the operational orbit and fulfill
the original mission.
“Based on data from initial communications, I can report that Al
Yah 3 is in orbit, healthy and responding to commands from our
mission operations team,” said Frank Culbertson, President of
Orbital ATK’s Space Systems Group. “We will continue to work
closely with our customer, Yahsat, to meet their mission objectives
and remain confident that we will deliver a fully operational
satellite to the planned orbit.”
Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer at Yahsat,
said, “We are pleased to know that the satellite is healthy and
that the necessary steps are being taken to ensure the original
mission is fulfilled. I would like to thank our technology partner
Orbital ATK and the Yahsat team in ensuring the Al Yah 3 objectives
are met.”
Al Yah 3, an all Ka-band satellite, and the first hybrid
electric propulsion GEOStar-3™ satellite completed by Orbital ATK,
was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket by Arianespace at 5:20 p.m. EST
January 25 from Kourou in French Guiana.
Al Yah 3 will join Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 in helping to empower
millions of people across the Middle East, Africa, South West Asia
and Brazil to access affordable Internet access via Yahsat’s
high-speed satellite broadband service, YahClick. The service is
designed to provide satellite broadband Internet to everyone,
opening up new opportunities for every aspect of society from
governments and enterprises to end users at home.
Al Yah 3 will expand Yahsat’s commercial Ka-band coverage to an
additional 19 new markets in Africa, reaching 60% of the
population. Furthermore, Al Yah 3 will serve Brazil, covering over
95% of its population.
Al Yah 3 is due to begin delivering commercial services later in
2018.
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
approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
About Yahsat
Yahsat is a leading global satellite operator, providing
multipurpose satellite solutions for broadband, broadcast,
government and communications use across the Middle East, Africa,
Europe, and Central and South West Asia. Headquartered in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, and wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company,
the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is
the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer Ka-band
services including YahClick, Yahsat Government Solutions, YahLink
and Yahlive via its Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites. With the
launch of Al Yah 3, Yahsat’s commercial Ka-band coverage will be
extended to an additional 20 markets, reaching 60% of Africa’s
population and over 95% of Brazil’s population. For more
information, visit www.yahsat.ae.
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Orbital ATKMedia Contact:Vicki Cox, 703-406-5663Group
Lead Public Relationsvicki.cox@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528Public and Investor
Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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