Orbital ATK-Built Al Yah 3 Commercial Communications Satellite in Good Health
Company Establishes Contact with Satellite after Launch Deviation
Orbital ATK and Yahsat Teams Working To Place Satellite into Intended
Orbit
DULLES, Va.Jan. 26, 2018--
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.

Source: Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK
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