Orbital Sciences Corporation Completes Preliminary Design Review for Yahsat Al Yah 3 Satellite

Abu Dhabi, UAE January 15, 2015 - Yahsat, the UAE-based satellite operator, a wholly owned company of the Mubadala Development Company, and Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB] today announced that they have completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Al Yah 3 spacecraft and payload. Al Yah 3, which is based on Orbital's GEOStar-3™ platform, is an all Ka High Throughput Satellite to be designed, manufactured and tested at Orbital's satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, VA.

The PDR was a comprehensive review that validated Orbital's design approach to the physical and functional requirements of the spacecraft. The review is the first step toward confirming that the satellite will operate effectively on orbit.

Marcus Vilaça, Acting Chief Technical Officer said, "The Preliminary Design Review is an industry standard process where our engineers review and confirm the overall architecture and design of our Al Yah 3 satellite. This is a significant step forward in the development phase of Al Yah 3 and ensures that we are on track to launch as scheduled for Q4 2016. While progress is underway with developing our third satellite, we are actively engaging with potential partners in Africa and Brazil enabling us to deploy much needed connectivity to underserved markets." 

Once operational, Al Yah 3 will enable the delivery of affordable broadband, to over 600 million users, specifically covering more than 95% of the population in Brazil and 60% of the population in Africa.

"This important milestone is a key step towards the Al Yah 3 launch", said Mr. Christopher Richmond, Orbital's Senior Vice President. "Al Yah 3 will be the first hybrid electric propulsion GEOStar-3-based spacecraft to be launched by Orbital at the end of 2016. It provides the benefits of higher power and greater payload capability while still maintaining advantageous launch costs."

About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC, "Yahsat"
Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions (government and commercial) for broadband, broadcast, government, and communications use across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe in addition to Central and South West Asia. Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company, the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Yahsat is the first company in the Middle East and Africa to offer multi-purpose satellite services including:

  • YahClick - offers satellite internet for home and business

  • YahService - offers managed solutions and government capacity

  • YahLink - offers IP trunking solutions, corporate networking and backhauling capacity

  • Yahlive - a joint venture between Yahsat and SES, offers premium services to broadcasters and a select choice of TV channels

Yahsat's first satellite Y1A was successfully launched in April 2011, and the company's second satellite Y1B was successfully launched in April 2012. Yahsat has announced plans to launch its third satellite, Al Yah 3, in 2016, extending their commercial Ka-band coverage across Africa and, for the first time, in Brazil.

For more information visit www.yahsat.ae or www.mubadala.ae

About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at www.orbital.com . Follow the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences.

Media contacts
Emily Franca, Phone  : +971 56 4144 818, Email: Emily.Franca@hkstrategies.com

Noura Charaf, Phone : +971 2 5076 138,   Email : Ncharaf@yahsat.ae

Barron Beneski, Phone : +1 703 406 5528, Email : benski.barron@orbital.com  

© Press Release 2015