YAHSAT - The UAE's Communication Satellite

United Arab Emirates13 May 2013Draft

Yahsat’s first satellite (Yahsat is a private joint stock company fully owned by Mudabala, the investment arm of Government of Abu Dhabi), dubbed Y1A, launched into orbit on April 23 rd , 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana. It is the UAE’s first multipurpose satellite to provide services in Europe, Middle East, African, Central and South West Asia. Y1A is also the region’s multipurpose first communications satellite to offer ka-band technology satellite solutions to government and commercial entities. Y1A orbits at an altitude of 36,000km above the equator, and is located at 52.5E.The length of the satellite is equivalent to almost five double decker busses and its height is 6 meters. The gross weight of Y1A is 6 metric tons, and travels at roughly 9 times the speed of sound (1224 km/h). Y1A has lifespan of 15 years. Size: 40 x 30 mm in sheets of 20 stamps.