The
U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin are ready to launch the third Mobile User
Objective System (MUOS) satellite, MUOS-3, from Cape Canaveral, Florida
on Tuesday, Jan. 20 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
The launch window is between 7:43 p.m. and 8:27 p.m. EST.
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MUOS
operates like a smart phone network in the sky, vastly improving current
secure mobile satellite communications for warfighters on the move.
Unlike previous systems, MUOS provides users an on-demand, beyond-line-of-sight
capability to transmit and receive high-quality, prioritized voice and
mission data, on a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.
“The launch of MUOS-3, and the near-term certification of our
fourth and final Radio Access Facility, brings us to the brink of the
global coverage we anticipate for MUOS communications. This government
and contractor team knows how important this capability is for our protectors
in harm’s way,” said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband
Communications at Lockheed Martin. “To deliver a satellite like
MUOS is no small task and the team worked around the clock and through
every holiday. We are honored to do so, because we know that our warfighters
never stop in their own mission to keep us safe.”
Replacing the legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Follow-On system, MUOS
satellites have two payloads to ensure access to UHF narrowband communications
as well as new capabilities. MUOS’ advanced Wideband Code Division
Multiple Access (WCDMA) payload incorporates commercial technology and
a new waveform to provide users priority-based capacity. Once fully
operational, MUOS will provide 16 times the capacity of the legacy system.
More than 50,000 terminals that are in the field today can be retro-fitted
with WCDMA.
The MUOS-3 satellite was built at Lockheed Martin’s Sunnyvale,
California manufacturing facility. The satellite was shipped to Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov. 5, and encapsulated into its launch
fairing on Dec. 18. |
