MUOS-4 launch completes smoothly

The fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite of the US Navy, MUOS-4, has been successfully launched and is responding normally to ground control, Lockheed Martin announced on 2 September.

The satellite was launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral air force station. Lockheed Martin's initialisation team was present at the Ventura County naval base in Point Mugu, California to operate the satellite from its transfer orbit to its test slot.

The MUOS-4 satellite separated from the launch vehicle around three hours after the launch. Over the next few days, it will transition to a geosynchronous orbit around 22,000 miles above the Earth. It will then deploy its antennas and solar arrays. On-orbit testing will begin after the deployment and the satellite will be subsequently turned over to the navy for testing and commissioning.

With the launch of the MUOS-4, the initial MUOS constellation is now complete and the network has near-global coverage, reaching further towards the South and North poles. The MUOS network of satellites and relay ground stations will provide secure, beyond line-of-sight communications to mobile military forces. It will transmit voice, video and mission data through an IP-based system.

Iris Bombelyn, vice president of narrowband communications, Lockheed Martin, said: 'The most dangerous part of a satellite's life is launch and getting into orbit. I really want to thank our entire team whose hard work prepared MUOS-4 for this mission-critical event and the Atlas team who ultimately carried us safely to our transfer orbit. We look forward to completing our on-orbit health checks and delivering this important asset to the US Navy and these new capabilities to our mobile forces.'