HYLAS 1 at 31° West
| Position: | 31° West |
| Manufacturer: | Airbus Defense & Space |
| Operator: | Avanti |
| Launch operator: | Arianespace |
| Launch vehicle: | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch date: | 11/26/2010 |
| Expected lifetime: | 15 Years |
HYLAS 1 is a hybrid Ka Band/Ku Band satellite with European coverage. The satellite is used mainly to provide broadband Internet access and to distribute and broadcast High-Definition Television (HDTV).
EADS Astrium (Airbus Defense & Space) was awarded to construct the innovative satellite for UK-based Avanti satellite operator. The satellite will provide interactive High-Definition Television and interactive broadband services from its UK orbital position of 33.5° West and cover 22 countries in western and central Europe. The contract between ESA and Avanti covers support for the development of the most innovative elements of this new system. ESA’s contribution is € 34 million of a total estimated project cost of € 120 million.
The construction of HYLAS 1 was a key milestone as it was the first contract for EADS Astrium’s latest communications payload technology, Generic Flexible Payload and Next Generation Antenna. The satellite would be a flight demonstrator for this innovative technology. HYLAS benefits from investment from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The satellite used the ISRO’s I-2K small satellite platform and was the second order under a new co-operative agreement EADS Astrium has with ANTRIX/ISRO. The HYLAS satellite will provide new and innovative services including High-Definition Television (HDTV) and interactive satellite delivered broadband services. The satellite will help address the issue of poor broadband coverage in many parts of Europe which have less developed ground infrastructure.
The satellite, with a launch mass of 2,300kgs, payload power of 2kW and a design lifetime of 15 years, was originally scheduled for launch in late 2008 on a Falcon-9 v1.0 from SpaceX launch operator, but in 2009 the launch contract was changed to a Soyuz-2-1a Fregat launch vehicle, operated by launch operator Arianespace and finally launched on November 26th, 2010 on an Ariane-5ECA from the Kourou Space Port in French Guiana.
HYLAS 1 at 31° West
HYLAS 1 at 31° West
