NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY,
POINT MUGU, Calif., June 24, 2016
/PRNewswire/ -- The Naval Spacecraft Operations Control facility
here is talking with the fifth Mobile User Objective System
(MUOS-5) satellite in space after its successful launch this
morning. Built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), MUOS-5 completes the
U.S. Navy's satellite constellation that will provide a new global
military cellular network offering enhanced communications
capabilities for mobile forces.
Downloadable images of MUOS-5 are available here:
http://ow.ly/RsNIp.
The MUOS-5 satellite launched at 10:30
a.m. EDT this morning aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas
V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. A Lockheed Martin-led initialization
team, stationed at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu,
California, is operating the
satellite from its transfer orbit to its test slot.
Over the next few days, MUOS-5 will transition to reach its
geosynchronous orbit location approximately 22,000 miles (37,586
km) above the Earth. The satellite's solar arrays and antennas will
then be deployed, and on-orbit testing will start for subsequent
turn-over to the Navy for test and commissioning to service.
The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems and its
Communications Satellite Program Office responsible for the MUOS
program are based in San Diego.
Lockheed Martin assembled and tested all five now-on-orbit MUOS
satellites at its Sunnyvale,
California, facility.
For the Navy, MUOS-5 completes a network of orbiting satellites
and relay ground stations that is revolutionizing secure
communications for mobile military forces. Users with MUOS
terminals will be able to seamlessly connect beyond line-of-sight
around the world and into the Global Information Grid, as well as
into the Defense Switching Network. MUOS' capabilities include
simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data over a
secure high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.
"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," said Mark
Woempner, director of Narrowband Communications Systems at
Lockheed Martin. "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."
The MUOS network provides near-global coverage, including
communications reach deep into polar regions. Once fully
operational, the network will provide users with 16 times more
communications capacity than the legacy system it will eventually
replace.
Like its predecessors, the MUOS-5 satellite has two payloads to
support both new Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)
waveform capabilities, as well as the legacy Ultra High Frequency
(UHF) satellite system. On orbit, MUOS-5 will augment the
constellation as a WCDMA spare, while actively supporting the
legacy UHF system, currently used by many mobile forces today.
Lockheed Martin invited six students to watch the MUOS-5 launch.
Earlier this year, the students competed in the FIRST®
Robotics Competition and the FIRST® Tech Challenge and were
Dean's List winners from each of the three Florida FIRST
championship events. The students met Lockheed Martin's launch
team, where they showcased their robots and later attended a photo
opportunity to see the Atlas V rocket up close before the
launch.
Through its "Launch and Learn" program, Lockheed Martin is
committed to working with schools, educators and nonprofits to
expose students to the space industry and foster interest in
careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
For additional information, photos and video visit:
www.lockheedmartin.com/muos
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
Media Contact:
Chip Eschenfelder, +1 303-977-8375;
chip.eschenfelder@lmco.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin