TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)
Space42's Thuraya 4 telecommunications satellite has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, where it is set to be launched into orbit by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket later this month.
The satellite, which was built by Airbus, was shipped from Toulouse, France, on board an Airbus BelugaST aircraft at the end of November.
The Abu Dhabi-based space-tech company this week announced that it has signed a Dh18.7 billion contract with the UAE Government to provide critical, secure communication services for a further 17 years beyond 2026 until 2043.
The deal is set to boost Space42's satellite capabilities, with its Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2 satellites currently in orbit, which will be supplemented by two new advanced satellites, Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5, expected to launch in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
The contract will replace two current agreements, the Capacity Services Agreement and the Managed Services Mandate, which end in December 2026.
The cost of the Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 development programme, including spacecraft, ground infrastructure, launch and insurance, will be approximately Dh3.9 billion.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space42's Yahsat Space Services, said: "We are delighted to sign this contract with the UAE Government, which underscores the ongoing trust in Space42's solutions. The Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites will offer new capabilities to advance our technology and service offerings, enabling us to continue providing our innovative SpaceTech solutions that meet the UAE Government's evolving requirements more efficiently, securely and reliably."
The soon-to-be-launched Thuraya 4 geostationary satellite was designed to deliver superior capabilities and increase coverage across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, enabling next-generation mobility solutions for customers. The lift-off date is yet to be announced.
Al Hashemi added: "We are delighted that the Thuraya 4 satellite has reached its final destination before launch. Thuraya 4 is at the core of our next-generation mobility solutions plans and demonstrates our commitment to harnessing advanced SpaceTech to unlock innovative AI-powered services for our global client base. Thuraya 4 will significantly expand our product offerings with more than 15 new products when it becomes fully operational."
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space said: "The shipment of Thuraya 4 represents a major milestone and reinforces our long-standing partnership with Yahsat Space Services, Space42 stretching back more than 10 years.
"In addition to being fully electric, Thuraya 4 also features Airbus' latest processed payload technology to give increased flexibility and adaptability to Space42's customers across land, sea and air."
Thuraya 4 is one of the largest MSS communication satellites produced, which allows for more services, higher speeds and higher level of performance security. It will enable Space42 to cover a greater spectrum and support customers across industries, including defence, government and enterprise.
The Eurostar Neo family of Airbus telecommunications satellites is based on a next-generation platform and technologies, developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and others including the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA).