Advanced Television

YahSat to make $100m+ insurance claim on Ariane problem

March 22, 2018

By Chris Forrester

Abu Dhabi-based YahSat is to make a significant insurance claim on its Al Yah-3/YahSat-3 satellite, which was placed into the wrong orbit by Arianespace on January 26th.

As previously reported, YahSat says that its satellite has suffered a 43 per cent loss of revenue because of the faulty orbit following the bad launch.  The poor launch meant the satellite had to use more of its precious fuel in order to reach its targeted geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite is not expected to reach its actual orbit position until mid-June, according to a summary in Space Intel Report (SNL).

The prospects are that by using this fuel the satellite is unlikely to achieve its intended 15-year design life.

SNL says that the final insurance claim will be made once the satellite has safely reached its correct orbital position, but that the claim could result in a payment of $108 million.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite, Policy, Regulation