MUOS-5 Reaches Orbit, Begins Pre-Operational Testing | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.03.24

Airborne-NextGen-06.04.24

Airborne-Unlimited-06.05.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.06.24

Airborne-Unlimited-06.07.24

Sat, Nov 12, 2016

MUOS-5 Reaches Orbit, Begins Pre-Operational Testing

Satellite Launched In June, Spacecraft Had A Problem Reaching Assigned Orbit

The fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy has reached orbit, successfully deployed its solar arrays and antennas, and is beginning pre-operational, on-orbit testing.

Originally launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 24, MUOS-5 experienced an anomaly with its orbit raising propulsion system on its way to geosynchronous orbit on June 29. Out of caution, the Navy and Lockheed Martin engineering team immediately placed the satellite in a safe mode in transfer orbit as they investigated and examined their options.

“In the end, the Navy and Lockheed Martin engineering team were able to isolate the issue and develop a work-around using alternative propulsion,” said Mark Woempner, director of Narrowband Communications Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Once we had a plan together, in early October we carefully re-started orbit raising maneuvers.”

MUOS-5 completed orbit raising on Oct. 22, and successfully deployed its solar arrays for power generation and its antennas for mission operations on Oct. 30. The satellite will begin on-orbit testing before being turned over to the Navy for further testing and eventual commissioning into service.

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-capable 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 Switched Network. MUOS’ capabilities include simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data over a secure high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.

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.

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.

(Image provided with Lockheed Martin news release)

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.06.24)

"To advance autonomous flight systems, our focus remains on automating pilot skills that enhance efficiency but most importantly, prioritize safety at every stage. Progressing thes>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.06.24)

Aero Linx: MC-12W Liberty The MC-12W is a medium-to low-altitude, twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sup>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.06.24): Airport Taxi Charts

Airport Taxi Charts Designed to expedite the efficient and safe flow of ground traffic at an airport. These charts are identified by the official airport name; e.g., Ronald Reagan >[...]

NTSB Final Report: Holland Travis E Velocity

Pilot’s Failure To Engage The Turbocharger For Takeoff And His Improper Decision To Continue The Takeoff... Analysis: The owner recently purchased the experimental amateur-bu>[...]

Airborne 05.31.24: 1Q GA Sales, 200th ALTO LSA, Spitfire Grounding

Also: NATA CEO In Legal Dilemma, WestJet Encore Settle, Drone Bill H.R. 8416, USN Jet Trainer GAMA released their 1Q/24 GA Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report -- with mostly mixed>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC