[SatNews] The Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS) 1, which was designed and built by Astrium for the satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications, has been fully fuelled and integrated with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

HYLAS 1 is scheduled to be launched on an Ariane 5, for which Astrium is also the prime industrial contractor, on November 26th, between 6.39pm and 9.54pm GMT. The Astrium teams on site at the Guiana Space Centre are now busy with final preparations for what will be the 54th Ariane 5 launch. 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 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bangalore was responsible for the HYLAS 1 platform and the satellite’s integration.

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 program. Astrium was selected as the sole prime contractor for Ariane 5 in 2003. Astrium Space Transportation delivers the fully assembled and tested launch vehicle to Arianespace, the commercial launch service provider. Astrium Space Transportation also supplies all the Ariane 5 stages, equipment bays, flight software and numerous sub-assemblies. Astrium oversees the entire industrial chain and is committed to providing Arianespace, who are responsible for the commercial marketing and launch of the Ariane 5, with a launcher that offers maximum reliability. It is this unique strategy of industrial collaboration that has allowed the Group to develop such a reliable launch vehicle, which has chalked up 39 successful consecutive flights.