Orbital Sciences has announced that the HYLAS 2 high-throughput broadband satellite has completed its in-orbit testing and operational control has been turned over to the customer, Avanti Communications Group PLC.

HYLAS 2 was launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana in on August 3, 2012. A team of Avanti and Orbital engineers have since conducted several weeks of orbit raising and testing operations to prepare the spacecraft for commercial service.

"This is the most complex satellite we have ever built. We couldn't be more pleased with how the post-launch operations of HYLAS 2 have proceeded," said Mr. Christopher Richmond, Orbital's Senior Vice President of its Space Systems Group.

"The satellite is functioning as it should, and we have turned over full operational control to Avanti."

Post-launch activities included the successful completion of a comprehensive set of tests to verify the performance of the satellites various subsystems such as propulsion, data handling, electrical, attitude control, thermal, flight software and telemetry.

The satellite's three reflectors were successfully deployed, including two east-and-west reflectors, and the nadir reflector, as well as the two solar arrays that provide the satellite's electrical power.

Orbital designed, built and tested the HYLAS 2 satellite at Orbital's satellite manufacturing and test facility in Dulles, VA. It carries 24 active Ka-band user beams and six gateway beams and will produce approximately 5.0 kilowatts of payload electrical power.

The HYLAS 2 is also equipped with a steerable spot beam, also operating at Ka-band, which can provide coverage anywhere on Earth that is visible to the satellite. HYLAS 2 will provide data and video services to Northern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and across the Caucuses.

HYLAS 2 is the latest of Orbital's highly successful GEOStar satellite platform, which is able to accommodate all types of commercial communications payloads. The GEOStar design is optimized for satellite missions requiring up to 7.5 kilowatts of payload power. In most instances, the affordable GEOStar satellite can be built and delivered in about 24 months.