An International Launch Services (ILS) Proton rocket on April 24 successfully placed the Yahsat IB Ka-band civil/military telecommunications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The launch completes the current in-orbit development program of A1 Yah Satellite Communications of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, following the April 2011 launch of Yahsat 1A, which carries a mixed Ku-, C- and Ka-band payload. Both spacecraft were built by Astrium Satellites and Thales Alenia Space of Europe under a $1.66 billion contract that included the satellites' launch and the network ground infrastructure.
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