Mobile User Objective System

MUOS satellite, 3D Modeled by Athena Killian, Graphic Designer based in San Diego, CA

The Mobile User Objective System is a narrowband military communications satellite system that supports a worldwide, multi-Service population of users in the ultra high frequency band. The system provides increased communications capabilities to newer, smaller terminals while still supporting interoperability with legacy terminals. MUOS is designed to support users that require greater mobility, higher bit rates and improved operational availability.

Overview

Installing a MUOS satellite dish in Hawaii

The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) (300 MHz to 3 GHz frequency range) SATCOM system, primarily serving the United States Department of Defense (DoD). International allies use is under consideration.^[1] The MUOS will replace the legacy UHF Follow-On (UFO) system before that system reaches its end of life to provide users with new capabilities and enhanced mobility, access, capacity, and quality of service. Intended primarily for mobile users (e.g. aerial and maritime platforms, ground vehicles, and dismounted soldiers), MUOS will extend users' voice, data, and video communications beyond their lines-of-sight.^[2]

MUOS is an array of geosynchronous^[3] satellites that will provide global satellite communications (SATCOM) narrowband connectivity for communications use by the United States at data rates up to 384kbit/s. The program will deliver five satellites, four ground stations, and a terrestrial transport network at a cost of $7,345.9M.^[4]

The Navy's Communications Satellite Program Office (PMW 146)^[5] of the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Space Systems in San Diego is lead developer for the MUOS Program. Lockheed Martin is the Prime System Contractor and satellite designer for MUOS under U.S Navy Contract N00039-04-C-2009,^[6][7] which was announced September 24, 2004. Key subcontractors include General Dynamics (Ground Transport architecture), Boeing (Legacy UFO and portions of the WCDMA payload) and Harris (deployable mesh reflectors). Full on-orbit capability is expected by 2015.

WCDMA system

The MUOS operates as a global cellular service provider to support the war fighter with modern cell phone-like capabilities, such as multimedia. It converts a commercial third generation (3G) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) cellular phone system to a military UHF SATCOM radio system using geosynchronous satellites in place of cell towers. By operating in the UHF frequency band, a lower frequency band than that used by conventional terrestrial cellular networks, the MUOS provides warfighters with the tactical ability to communicate in "disadvantaged" environments, such as heavily forested regions where higher frequency signals would be unacceptably attenuated by the forest canopy. The MUOS constellation will consist of four operational satellites and one on-orbit spare. MUOS will provide military point-to-point and netted communication users with precedence-based and pre-emptive access to voice, data, video, or a mixture of voice and data services that span the globe. Connections may be set up on demand by users in the field, within seconds, and then released just as easily, freeing resources for other users. In alignment with more traditional military communications methods, pre-planned networks can also be established either permanently or per specific schedule using the MUOS' ground-based Network Management Center.

Legacy payload

In addition to the cellular MUOS WCDMA payload, a fully capable and separate UFO legacy payload is incorporated into each satellite. The "Legacy" payload extends the useful life of legacy UHF SATCOM terminals and enables a smoother transition to MUOS.

Launches

After several range weather delays, the first MUOS satellite, MUOS-1, launched into space successfully on February 24, 2012, carried by an Atlas V rocket flying in its 551 configuration.^[8]

MUOS-2 launched on schedule on July 19, 2013 at 13:00 UTC aboard an Atlas V 551 (AV-040).^[9]

MUOS-3 was encapsulated into its payload fairing on 19 December 2014, paving the way for its launch on board the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on 20 January 2015 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.^[10]

MUOS-4 arrived at Cape Canaveral July 31, 2015.^[11] Weather conditions pushed back the launch, which was originally scheduled for 06:07 EDT August 31, 2015. ^[12] The launch took place September 2, 2015 at 06:18 EDT. ^[13]

MUOS ground stations

MUOS ground station in Wahiawa, Hawaii

The MUOS will include four ground station facilities.^[2] Site selections were completed in 2007 with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the U.S. Navy and the Australian Department of Defence. The four ground stations, each of which serves one of the four active satellites of the MUOS constellation will be located at: the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station at Kojarena about 30 km east of Geraldton, Western Australia; Naval Radio Transmitter Facility (NRTF) Niscemi about 60 km from Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Italy; Naval SATCOM Facility, Northwest Chesapeake, Southeast Virginia; and the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific, Hawaii.

Controversy

Construction of the ground station in Italy was halted for nearly half of 2013 caused by protesters concerned with health risks and environmental damage due to radio waves. One scientific study 'point[s] to serious risks to people and the environment, such as to prevent its realization in densely populated areas, like the one adjacent to the town of Niscemi.' ^[14] The system is not considered fully operational until all four ground stations are completed and turned over to the Navy. The other ground stations were turned over in 2012 and 2013.

In spite of the controversy, the site at Niscemi was completed in anticipation of the launch of MUOS-4, scheduled for August 31, 2015. ^[15]

Radio terminals

The MUOS Waveform with complete red/black operational capability was released in 2012. Until the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program cancellation in 2011, the JTRS program would provide the DoD terminals that can communicate with the MUOS WCDMA waveform with a series of form-factor models. The JTRS Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) AN/PRC-155 manpack built by General Dynamics survived the wider JTRS program cancellation and has shipped several low rate of initial production (LRIP) units. Several non-program of record terminals have also been developing MUOS waveform capatibility such as the Rockwell Collins AN/ARC-210^[16][17] airborne terminal and Harris Corporation AN/PRC-117G^[18][19] Manpack.

Arctic and Antarctic capabilities

In 2013, the prime contractor Lockheed Martin and an industry team of radio vendors demonstrated extensive Arctic communications reach near the north pole, believed to be the most northerly successful call to a geosynchronous satellite.^[20] WCDMA calls to the far north will be increasingly important where there has been an increase in shipping, resource exploration and tourism without much improvement in secure satellite communications access. Based on the tests, full coverage of the northwest passage and northeast passage shipping lanes is expected.

See also

• Global Information Grid
• Network-centric warfare

References

External links

• The Daily Beast - MUOS Protests in Italy
• Global Security - MUOS
• "The Mobile User Objective System" Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest 2011 Vol 30 No 2
• MUOS 1,2,3,4,5
• US Navy MUOS
• Launch images of US Navy MUOS-2, 19 July 2013, 9:00 am EDT at CCAFS
• Mission page of US Navy MUOS-3, launch NET 20 January 2015, 7:43-8:27 pm EST at CCAFS

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