Business | Aviation
Yahsat satellite to be launched in 2010
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, yesterday signed a letter of intent with Arianespace, a launch service and solutions company, to launch the Yahsat 1A communications satellite.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:43 January 16, 2008
Dubai: Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, yesterday signed a letter of intent with Arianespace, a launch service and solutions company, to launch the Yahsat 1A communications satellite.
The satellite is currently being manufactured by the consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. The launch is expected in second-half 2010.
The letter of intent was signed between the CEO of Yahsat, Jasem Mohammad Al Zaabi, and the chairman and CEO of Arianespace, Jean-Yves Le Gall, and coincided with the state visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The letter of intent states that the Yahsat 1A satellite is to be scheduled for a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) launch in the second half of 2010, from the Guiana Space Centre (Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana) by an Ariane 5 launcher.
"Since inception in January 2007, Yahsat has made excellent progress in its plans to launch Abu Dhabi's first satellite in 2010. The manufacturing of Yahsat 1A is well underway and so we're delighted to announce this major development as we edge towards launch," said Al Zaabi.
Good support
"Arianespace has launch-ed more than 250 other satellites so we're confident that we have chosen a world-class partner to help support our mission, which will put Abu Dhabi on the map in the satellite communications industry," he added.
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