“This
is a proud moment for the MUOS team,” said Iris Bombelyn, Lockheed
Martin vice president of Narrowband Communications. “It takes
a lot of detailed and dedicated work to get us here from a team that
spans suppliers, engineers, technicians, customer and subcontractors.
I’m proud of their efforts, and we look forward to the difference
MUOS will make for mobile users.”
MUOS satellites feature a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access payload
that incorporates commercial technology designed to provide 16 times
the number of accesses above requirements for the legacy UHF Follow-On
system. The satellites also include a hosted legacy UHF payload that
will be fully compatible with the current ultra-high frequency system
and legacy terminals.
The geosynchronous constellation consists of four satellites and one
on-orbit spare, which are expected to achieve full operational capability
in 2015, extending UHF narrowband communications availability well past
2025.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the MUOS prime
contractor and system integrator. The Navy's Program Executive Office
for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite
Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program.
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