CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 18 (UPI) -- A second Mobile User Objective System satellite, primarily for military communications is to be launched Friday by the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin.
The launch, using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, will take place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida between 8:48 a.m. and 9:32 a.m. EDT.
"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."
The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is an Ultra High Frequency system. It incorporates commercial technology to provide 16 times the number of accesses above requirements for the legacy UHF Follow-On system.
A constellation of four satellites – plus one on-orbit spare – will be in geosynchronous orbit and will be fully operational by the year 2015.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator for the program.
