Yahsat Y1A satellite handed over to Al Yah

The Y1A communications satellite has been handed over to Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space after the successful completion of in-orbit testing.
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Yahsat Y1A is the first satellite built for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company. It is the first part of a fully integrated satellite communications system, comprising the Y1A and Y1B satellites and ground segment, developed by an industrial team of Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.

Astrium supplied the Eurostar E3000 platform, and assembled and tested the spacecraft while Thales Alenia Space supplied the communications payloads.
 
The Launch and Early Orbit Phase was carried out from the Astrium Toulouse Control Centre and the In-Orbit Testing from the Yahsat Control Centre in Abu Dhabi backed-up by the staff at Astrium in Toulouse.
 
Yahsat has invested in training UAE nationals to take control of the satellite operations, which will be based in the Abu Dhabi Control Centre.