Artist’s rendition of Al Yah 3. Photo: Yahsat

[Via Satellite 08-10-2015] UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat and Orbital ATK have completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Al Yah 3 spacecraft and payload. The Ka-band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) is based on Orbital ATK’s GEOStar 3 platform, and is under construction at the company’s Dulles, Va., manufacturing facility.

Yahsat executives and engineers oversaw the CDR, which is the last step before assembly begins. The CDR is conducted during the engineering and manufacturing development phase, and completion indicates that all specifications and requirements have been captured into the overall final design of the satellite.

“We have now locked in the final design details of our newest satellite. The information presented at the CDR confirms compliance to our system specifications, with healthy margins on all of the key parameters. As we move to the spacecraft integration phase, I am confident that we are on track to launch as per schedule,” said Marcus Vilaça, acting chief technical officer at Yahsat.

Al Yah 3 is slated to launch in late 2016 aboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, bringing satellite broadband to markets in Africa and Brazil.