Artistic rendition of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite.

...onboard the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, California. MUOS will provide military users with next-generation, narrowband tactical satellite communications with 16 times more capability than existing UHF satellites, including superior data rates and priority-based access to on-demand voice, video and data transfers. The announcement was made during the National Space Symposium being held April 16-18 at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The MUOS satellite, developed for the U.S. Navy, leverages the latest commercial advances in cellular and satellite technology, while maintaining compatibility with legacy UHF systems. This is the first of five MUOS satellites scheduled for deployment. Each MUOS satellite will carry two Harris antenna reflectors—a 14m diameter unit for multiple-beam operation that significantly increases the number of users and traffic the system can support and a 5.4m diameter unit for legacy mission operations. The reflectors are secured to the satellite by precision booms that are also provided by Harris. A reflective gold mesh weave provides the reflective surface required for radio waves. In total, Harris is building ten units for the MUOS constellation, with the remaining eight units in varying stages of production. The antenna reflectors were manufactured at the company’s reflector manufacturing facility in Palm Bay, Florida.