Sunnyvale, U.S.A. — Lockheed Martin  announced that it has completed on-orbit testing of the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite, designated MUOS-1, paving the way for the U.S. Navy’s multi-service operational test and evaluation phase in preparation for the start of operations in August 2012.

“The successful on-orbit checkout of this revolutionary satellite is a great testament to the close coordination and partnership between the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin team,” said Mark Valerio, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Military Space line of business. ”This event is another major milestone in our commitment to provide unparalleled communications capabilities that put mission-critical, real-time information in the hands of our mobile warfighters.”

MUOS-1 was launched Feb. 24, 2012 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. A next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system, MUOS will provide significantly improved and secure communications for mobile warfighters, including simultaneous voice, video and data.

“The team successfully completed this critical on-orbit test phase in an effective and efficient manner to support our customer’s program schedule,” said Mark Pasquale, who oversaw the spacecraft test phase as Lockheed Martin vice president and MUOS program manager. “The satellite is exceeding all performance requirements as a result of the disciplined flight-like test program it was subjected to in the factory prior to launch.”

MUOS satellites are equipped with a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) payload that provides a 16-fold increase in transmission throughput over the current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite system, including global connectivity through the Defense Information Systems Network and support services such as full two-way voice and data transfers.

Lockheed Martin’s MUOS operations team conducted the on-orbit deployment and checkout of all spacecraft systems over a three month period, with both payloads passing a series of rigorous on-orbit tests with existing UHF ground systems and new WCDMA test terminals.

A single MUOS satellite will provide four times the capacity of the entire UFO constellation of 8 satellites.  Each MUOS satellite also includes a legacy UHF payload that is fully compatible with the current UHF Follow-on system and legacy terminals.  This dual-payload design ensures a smooth transition to the cutting-edge WCDMA technology while the UFO system is phased out.

The first MUOS satellite and associated ground system will provide initial on-orbit capability this year, followed by the launch of the second spacecraft in 2013. The five-satellite global constellation is expected to achieve full operational capability in 2015, extending UHF narrowband communications availability to the armed forces well past 2025.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator. The Navy’s Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

For low- and high-resolution images of the MUOS satellite, please visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/muos

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Lockheed Martin has signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Air Force’s Space Development and Test Directorate and Air Force Research Laboratory to improve the operation and affordability of satellite command and control.

“This agreement is a first step in opening up our architecture to the best ground station technologies in the private and civil sectors,” said Colonel John Anttonen, Chief of the Space Test and Operations Division at Kirtland AFB. ”We are bringing the smartphone concept to our next generation ground systems where satellites are flown as apps and new technology can be rapidly inserted.”

Lockheed Martin will leverage its best engineering technologies from across DoD, Intelligence, and Civil programs to meet the challenges of operationally responsive ground system configuration to achieve “lights out” operations. Additionally, Lockheed Martin is scaling its ground station from a Space Operations Center down to a single laptop, and instantiating a ground system remotely from its host hardware (micro-cloud computing architecture), all while supporting multiple concurrent classified missions.

“Under the agreement, the parties are working to research, develop, demonstrate, and evaluate successful technologies to more quickly and affordably configure and autonomously operate satellite command and control systems,” said Bob Kramer, Lockheed Martin IS&GS-Defense vice president for Operational Systems and Services. “We look forward to working with the Air Force on this important operationally-responsive C2 project.”

The project will culminate with live demonstrations in the Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center (MMSOC) at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., late this year, 2012, and 2013.

As the leader in USAF ground systems R&D, the Space Development and Test Directorate will provide access to space missions and the MMSOC for live experimentation. The Directorate will help guide the investigations, provide system configuration and flight operations support to experiments, and assess the potential technologies on behalf of the DoD.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

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