Satellite News

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, has signed a letter of intent with Arianespace to launch the Yahsat 1A communications satellite. Mubadala has meanwhile invited several banks to submit financing proposals for the planned Yahsat system.

Rocket: Zenit 3SL/Block DM-SL; Payload: Thuraya 3; Date: 15 January 2008, 1149 UTC; Launch Site: Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned on the equator at 154 degrees West Longitude in the Pacific Ocean. Spacecraft separation occurred 99 minutes after lift-off.