MUOS-2
was launched July 19, 2013 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The system dramatically
improves secure communications, delivering simultaneous and prioritized
voice, video and data for the first time to users on the move.
“MUOS-2 benefits from continuous improvement. We completed our
baseline on-orbit testing in half the time compared to MUOS-1,”
said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband Communications at Lockheed
Martin. “We look forward to supporting the Navy’s test and
evaluation phase to demonstrate the total capability of the Mobile User
Objective System. When commissioned, the full digital data and flexible
network management capabilities will be available to users for both
MUOS-1 and MUOS-2.”
The Naval Satellite Operations Center will soon begin relocation operations
to place MUOS-2 in its operational slot. There, it will undergo testing
and evaluation prior to formal government commissioning in 2014.
MUOS satellites are equipped with a wideband code division multiple
access (WCDMA) payload that provides a 10-fold increase in transmission
throughput over the current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite system,
which is also on board. The WCDMA payload gives users the advantage
of high-speed data and priority access that legacy systems did not.
Lockheed Martin's MUOS operations team conducted the on-orbit deployment
and checkout of all spacecraft systems over a 4 month period. The spacecraft
systems and integrated ground and network systems were evaluated with
three radio access facilities and new MUOS-compatible terminals. A growing
number of terminals are taking advantage of the MUOS advantage since
first connections with the advanced waveform began earlier this year.
Government testing will take place before MUOS-2 is turned over to U.S.
Strategic Command for operational use. |
