Yahsat’s 1st satellite placed in position

Abu Dhabi, May 8, 2011

The first satellite of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has arrived at its point of operations, 52.5 degrees east, roughly above the United Arab Emirates.

In this operational position, satellite Y1A now looks down on a service area including Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South-West Asia.

“This is a very significant step as we move towards activating Yahsat’s services for our customers across the coverage regions,” said Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat and executive director of Mubadala Information, Communications and Technology.

“Our tests thus far have gone well and the satellite appears to be performing properly. It is safe to say the highest degree of risk is behind us and I am confident we will be prepared to activate our services shortly.”

After its successful launch on April 23, (Abu Dhabi time) the satellite performed a series of maneuvers bringing it from an elliptical transfer orbit to its final circular geostationary orbit some 35,786 km above Earth. Now in its final position, controllers will spend the next several weeks testing every aspect of the satellite’s functionality before its systems are activated for Y1A’s duel commercial and civil missions.-TradeArabia News Service

Tags: UAE | Mubadala | technology | Space | Science | Yahsat | Al Yah Satellite Communications |