The European Space Agency and Avanti Screenmedia Group have signed a contract covering the implementation of the Ka- and Ku-band Highly Flexible Satellite (HYLAS) project. Avanti has awarded a contract to build the 2,300kg (5,060lb) HYLAS to EADS Astrium.
With a total project cost of €120 million ($150 million) and a broadcast area covering Europe, HYLAS will provide broadband internet access and broadcast high-definition television. Launch is planned for late 2008, into geostationary orbit at 33.5°W. The expected lifetime is 15 years.
HYLAS will be able to handle up to 300,000 simultaneous users and its high-gain Ka-band payload will provide up to eight simultaneously active spot beams, equivalent to more than 40 conventional 33MHz transponders. “HYLAS will play an important role in demonstrating the advanced technological capabilities of European space companies,” says ESA’s director of European Union and industry programmes, Giuseppe Viriglio.
ESA is contributing €34 million to the total cost. Astrium will supply the generic flexible payload and next-generation antenna for HYLAS, which will use the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) I-2K small satellite platform. The Avanti contract is the second order under EADS and ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix.
Source: Flight International
