Article Posted on : - Nov 09, 2009

Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS) is ESA’s geostationary communications satellite with a launch mass of around 2100kg and beginning-of-life power of 3.5KW. HYLAS is a moderately sized satellite that allows the scalable introduction of new enhanced services with limited technical and financial risk.

The traffic handling capacity of the Broadband HYLAS payload ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 simultaneous users. It is a hybrid Ka Band/Ku Band satellite with European coverage and by using high-gain Ka Band spot beams, it is possible to provide up to 8 simultaneously active spots, a capacity equivalent to more than 40 conventional 33 MHz transponders.

In addition, the implementation of a novel type of payload based on the combined use of EADS Astrium Limited General Flexible Payload technology and TSAT Flexible Travelling Wave Tubes will allow the optimisation of the assignment of satellite resources (power and spectrum) to each spot as a function of their respective traffic demand.

A range of HDTV programmes distribution and broadcast will be on two flexible Ku Band transponders for Avanti Screenmedia customers over the largest part of the European continent

HYLAS satellite can be launched in 2010, using an Ariane 5 or Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. It is the first satellite entrusted to Arianespace by Avanti Communications, the new European satellite operator.

-Courtesy:
       ESA