HYLAS 1 arrives at its launch site

* Broadband satellite to be launched aboard an Ariane 5 in November

* Satellite will provide broadband services across Europe



Kourou, – The Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS 1), which was designed and built by Astrium for the satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications, has now arrived at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, ahead of its planned launch aboard an Ariane 5 in late November.



HYLAS 1 will bring high-speed broadband services to remote rural areas across Europe, using its ‘highly adaptable’ payload, developed by Astrium, primarily at its UK sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage. The payload operating in Ku and Ka bands is designed to allocate varying amounts of power and bandwidth to the different regions within its footprint, reacting to the highs and lows of traffic demand.



The satellite was flown to French Guiana aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo plane from Bangalore, India, where HYLAS 1’s satellite platform and integration was undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Over the coming weeks the satellite will be readied for launch and mated with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.



The UK Space Agency and Technology Strategy Board have provided support for the development of HYLAS 1 through the UK subscription to the European Space Agency ARTES programme.





About Astrium

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2009, Astrium had a turnover of €4.8 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and Astrium Services for the development and provision of secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, geo-information products and services, and navigation services.



EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 42.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 119,000.