US Navy’s Fifth Mobile User Objective System Satellite Ready For Launch On Atlas V Later This Month

Lockheed Martin built, US Navy’s fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-5) satellite is ready for launch on Atlas V 551 on June 21 this year from  Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-5) satellite is the latest addition to a network of orbiting satellites and relay ground stations that is revolutionizing secure communications for mobile military forces. Users with operational MUOS terminals can seamlessly connect beyond line-of-sight around the world and into the Global Information Grid. MUOS’ new commercial, cellular-based capabilities include simultaneous, crystal-clear voice, video and mission data, over a secure high-speed Internet Protocol-based system, ULA said in a statement.

MUOS-5 will mark the 63rd Atlas V since the vehicle’s inaugural launch in August 2002. MUOS-5 will be the seventh mission to launch in the 551 configuration; other missions launched in this configuration include four previous MUOS missions as well as the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Juno mission to Jupiter.