The Mobile User Objective System is a narrowbandmilitary 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 who require greater mobility, higher bit rates and improved operational availability.
Overview
The Mobile User Objective System is an Ultra High Frequency SATCOM system, primarily serving the United States Department of Defense. International allies use is under consideration. The MUOS will replace the legacy UHF Follow-On 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, MUOS will extend users' voice, data, and video communications beyond their lines-of-sight. MUOS is an array of geosynchronous satellites that will provide global satellite communications 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 US$7.34 billion. The Navy's Communications Satellite Program Office of the Program Executive Office 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, which was announced September 24, 2004. Key subcontractors include General Dynamics Mission Systems, Boeing and Harris. 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 Wideband Code Division Multiple Access 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.
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. MUOS-2 launched on schedule on July 19, 2013, at 13:00 UTC aboard an Atlas V 551. MUOS-3 was launched on board a United Launch AllianceAtlas V rocket on January 20, 2015, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. MUOS-4 arrived at Cape CanaveralJuly 31, 2015. Weather conditions pushed back the launch, which was originally scheduled for August 31, 2015, at 10:07 UTC. The launch took place September 2, 2015, at 10:18 UTC. MUOS-5 arrived at Cape Canaveral on March 9, 2016. Launch was originally scheduled for May 5, 2016, but due to an internal investigation into an Atlas V fuel system problem during the Cygnus OA-6 launch on March 22, the scheduled date was pushed back. The launch took place on June 24, 2016, at 14:30 UTC. An "anomaly" aboard the satellite occurred a few days later, however, when it was still in a Geostationary Transfer Orbit, leaving it "Reconfigured into Safe Intermediate Orbit", or stranded in GTO. Amateur observers tracked it in an orbit of approximately since July 3, 2016. On November 3, 2016 the Navy announced that the satellite has finally reached operational orbit.
MUOS operational positions
The four currently operational MUOS satellites are stationed at longitude 177° W ; 100° W ; 15.5° W ; and 75° E. MUOS 5 was intended for longitude 72° E. They have a 5° orbital inclination. In the first few months after launch, the satellites were temporarily parked in a check-out position at longitude 172° W.
Construction of the ground station in Italy was halted for nearly half of 2012 by protesters concerned with health risks and environmental damage by radio waves. One scientific study 'point 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.' 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.
Radio terminals
The MUOS Waveform with complete red/black operational capability was released in 2012. Until the Joint Tactical Radio System 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 AN/PRC-155 manpack built by General Dynamics Mission Systems survived the wider JTRS program cancellation and has shipped several low rate of initial production units. Several non-program of record terminals have also been developing MUOS waveform capatibility such as the Rockwell CollinsAN/ARC-210 airborne terminal and Harris CorporationAN/PRC-117G 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. 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. Several follow-on tests with high quality voice and data including streaming video have occurred in both the Arctic and Antarctic, including a 2015 demonstration from McMurdo Station.
