MUOS Stress Success For Lockheed Martin

A key milestone has been achieved by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] in the company’s development of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)—they successfully completed static loads testing of the first satellite in the program constellation. The test, which validated the satellite’s strength and ability to sustain its launch weight of over 13,000 pounds, was conducted by a team of engineers from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pennsylvania, and ATK, Corona, California. The successful test demonstrated with high confidence that the structure can carry the physical loads it will experience during the satellite’s manufacturing, launch and operation in geosynchronous orbit. MUOS satellites will be the largest of Lockheed Martin’s flight-proven A2100 spacecraft series. The first MUOS satellite along with the associated ground system are scheduled for on-orbit hand over to the Navy in 2010.

The team is now preparing to deliver the spacecraft core structure to Lockheed Martin’s Mississippi Space & Technology Center at the John C. Stennis Space Center. The panels and other components will be shipped to the company’s facilities in Newtown for the start of payload integration. The MUOS core propulsion structure and the integrated payload module are scheduled for delivery to Sunnyvale later this year for the start of final assembly, integration and test. The Lockheed Martin MUOS team, which includes General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Boeing Satellite Systems, El Segundo, Calif.; has been given the green light by the U.S. Navy and the DoD to proceed with follow-on MUOS spacecraft.

MUOS will provide significantly improved and assured communications for U.S. mobile warfighters. The Lockheed Martin design features state-of-the art third generation (3G) mobile technology that will deliver simultaneous voice and data services, as well as the ability to increase capacity and features over the life of the program. Users of the current Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system will have improved service and complete interoperability with the MUOS legacy payload which ensures a smooth transition to the next generation of 3G mobile user equipment—Sunnyvale, California