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The U.S. Navy’s second MUOS satellite went through a series of rigorous performance tests prior to its scheduled launch date, Friday, July 19, 2013.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
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[Satellite TODAY 07-18-13] For the first time, mobile users, including military troops and border patrol agents, will soon be able to use secure voice and data on the move. This is the view of Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Narrowband Communications mission area, speaking ahead of the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) launch, a partnership between Lockheed and the U.S. Navy. The satellite is currently scheduled for launch between 8:48 and 9:32 a.m. EDT on Friday aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket.ã??
The voice and data on the move technology will be available after the launch, featuring a wideband code division multiple access payload. "There will be no more need to stop and establish line of sight with a satellite. Our new features are based on commercial cell phone technology, so we’re offering similar advantages: group calls, simultaneous voice and data [and] high-speed service and prioritization, which means we can increase bandwidth to users who need it the most," Bombelyn said during an interview with SatelliteTODAY.COM.
Comprised of a narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move, the MUOS 2 satellite is capable of providing military users with additional communications capability, including simultaneous voice, video and data. But Lockheed officials contend the MUOS applications span well beyond the U.S. Navy.
"There are many branches [of the military] that use MUOS. But for example, if the [U.S.] Marines are on a mission and need to contact a command center, they have to stop moving and step out from under vegetation or get out of an area of tall buildings to make their call. This can compromise safety and cause delays in the mission,” Bombelyn said. “Now with MUOS, they can exchange voice and data from wherever they are on the go."
Implementation of the new technology was not without challenges, and from the earliest design stages, the overall security and clarity of the transmissions was of particular concern.
"We approached the solution in an innovative way, incorporating commercial technology into a secure package, which reduced cost and risk. That had its own challenges, but we’ve delivered our advanced waveform, and it’s available for terminal providers to download and incorporate in compatible radios. There are over 20,000 terminals compatible with MUOS, so we’re at the cusp of our potential in adding users to the system," Bombelyn said.
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The MUOS satellite scheduled to launch July 19, 2013 is the second of a total of five in the constellation.
Image credit: Lockheed Martin
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The second MUOS satellite launch has provided a sense of accomplishment for all involved in the launch, including government and private sector officials, according to Bombelyn. But, she believes that one of the greatest moments for Lockheed officials was when they were informed by the U.S. Navy that the legacy payload was operating to full capacity with crystal clear connectivity, and users were saying "Give me more."
Friday’s launch marks a milestone for what will eventually be a total of five MUOS satellites and the associated ground systems designed specifically for the Navy. 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.
ULA said that the MUOS 2 satellite will be the heaviest payload to ride into space atop any of ULA’s Atlas 5 launch vehicles. The Atlas 5 will generate more than two and half million pounds of thrust at liftoff, in order to meet the demands of lifting the nearly 7.5-ton satellite. "The ULA team is focused on attaining perfect product delivery for the MUOS 2 mission, which includes a relentless focus on mission success," said Jim Sponnick, vice president of ULA’s Atlas and Delta programs, in a written statement.
The Atlas 5 rocket spans 12.5 feet in diameter and 106.5 feet in length. The booster’s tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes, and intertank skirts. The Atlas’ booster propulsion is provided by the RD-180 engine system, a single engine with two thrust chambers. The RD-180 burns RP-1 Rocket Propellant-1 or highly purified kerosene and liquid oxygen and delivers 860,200 lbs of thrust at sea level.
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