2012-09-10 15:17:14 -
For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact:
Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528
Public and Investor Relations
beneski.barron@orbital.com
ORBITAL-BUILT HYLAS 2 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES IN-ORBIT
TESTING
-- Operational Control of Satellite Turned Over to Avanti Communications --
(Dulles, VA 10 September 2012) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one
of the world's leading space technology companies, announced today that the
HYLAS 2 high-throughput broadband satellite has completed its in-orbit testing
and operational control has been turned over to the customer, Avanti
Communications Group PLC. HYLAS 2 was launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from
Kourou, French Guiana in on August 3, 2012. A team of Avanti and Orbital
engineers have since conducted several weeks of orbit raising and testing
operations to prepare the spacecraft for commercial service.
"This is the most complex satellite we have ever built. We couldn't be more
pleased with how the post-launch operations of HYLAS 2 have proceeded," said Mr.
Christopher Richmond, Orbital's Senior Vice President of its Space Systems
Group. "The satellite is functioning as it should, and we have turned over full
operational control to Avanti."
Post-launch activities included the successful completion of a comprehensive set
of tests to verify the performance of the satellites various subsystems such as
propulsion, data handling, electrical, attitude control, thermal, flight
software and telemetry. The satellite's three reflectors were successfully
deployed, including two east-and-west reflectors, and the nadir reflector, as
well as the two solar arrays that provide the satellite's electrical power.
Orbital designed, built and tested the HYLAS 2 satellite at Orbital's satellite
manufacturing and test facility in Dulles, VA. It carries 24 active Ka-band user
beams and six gateway beams and will produce approximately 5.0 kilowatts of
payload electrical power. The HYLAS 2 is also equipped with a steerable spot
beam, also operating at Ka-band, which can provide coverage anywhere on Earth
that is visible to the satellite. HYLAS 2 will provide data and video services
to Northern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and across
the Caucuses.
HYLAS 2 is the latest of Orbital's highly successful GEOStar(TM) satellite
platform, which is able to accommodate all types of commercial communications
payloads. The GEOStar design is optimized for satellite missions requiring up to
7.5 kilowatts of payload power. In most instances, the affordable GEOStar
satellite can be built and delivered in about 24 months.
About Avanti Communications Group PLC
Avanti sells satellite data communications services to telecommunications
companies which use them to supply residential, enterprise and institutional
users. Avanti's first satellite, called HYLAS 1, launched on November
26, 2010, was the first Ka-band satellite launched in Europe. Avanti's second
satellite, HYLAS 2, will extend Avanti's coverage to Africa and the Middle East.
Avanti's third satellite, HYLAS 3, to be launched in partnership with ESA in
2015, will provide further capacity in the EMEA region. Some 80% of Avanti's
fleet capacity will address the emerging telecommunications markets of Africa
and the Middle East. For more information about Avanti, media are asked to
contact:
College Hill, London: +44 (0)207 457 2020 and ask for:
* Duncan MacKenzie-Reid,
duncan.mackenzie-reid@collegehill.com
* Jeremy Durrant,
Jeremy.durrant@collegehill.com
* Lottie Whyte,
lottie.whyte@collegehill.com
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
# # #
Note to editors: A high-resolution photograph of the HYLAS 2 satellite in
Orbital's Dulles, VA manufacturing facility is available at:
www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/ImagesMultimedia/Images/SatelliteSpaceS ..
dex.shtml
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Orbital Sciences Corporation via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1639890]
