MUOS-5 responding to ground control

Lockheed Martin's fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-5) satellite has been successfully launched into space and is responding to the US Naval Spacecraft Operations Control facility in Naval Base Ventura County, the company announced on 24 June.

MUOS-5 is the final satellite in the US Navy's MUOS constellation for a new global military cellular communications network for mobile military forces. It will provide simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data over a secure high-speed IP-based system.

Over the coming days, MUOS-5 will transition to its geosynchronous orbit location, around 22,000 miles above the Earth's surface. Its antennas and solar arrays will then be deployed. This will be followed by on-orbit testing and subsequent turn-over to the navy for testing and commissioning.

Once fully operational, the MUOS will provide users with 16 times more communications capacity than the legacy system it will replace. The MUOS-5 satellite has two payloads to support the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite system and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) waveform capabilities.

Mark Woempner, director of Narrowband Communications Systems at Lockheed Martin, said: ‘The launch of MUOS-5 is a major milestone. MUOS will be a game changer in communications for our service men and women on the front lines around the world.

'Now that the navy’s constellation is complete, we will continue to work with our government and industry teammates to further refine MUOS based on user feedback. We are committed to bringing all of MUOS’ advanced capabilities to our warfighters.’