Yahsat sends first command to Y1A from Abu Dhabi

Yahsat has sent its first command to Y1A from the company’s satellite control center in Al Falah, Abu Dhabi. The satellite, which was launched on April 23, 2011 by Arianespace, had remained under the control of the manufacturers as it was brought to its final orbital position at 52.5 degrees east.

This event also marks the first time Yahsat’s team of Emirati engineers has controlled Y1A, a task many have spent the past 18 months preparing for.

“This is a defining moment for our team as, in taking command of Y1A, Yahsat has become a true satellite operator,” said Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat and Executive Director of Mubadala Information, Communications and Technology.

“We issued the first command this afternoon, and Y1A responded well. For the next several weeks, our team will be testing Yahsat’s control systems and evaluating the satellite’s functionality, which so far appear excellent,” he added.

To commemorate the event, Yahsat has framed a copy of the first command issued by the company to the satellite, which has been signed by the company’s senior management and put on display in the control center’s main foyer. 

As Y1A is now under the command of Yahsat, the manufacturers along with Yahsat’s operators will spend the next several weeks testing every aspect of Y1A’s functionality before its systems are activated for its dual commercial and military missions.