The U.S. Navy‘s fifth Mobile User Objective System satellite has fielded its antennas and solar arrays after the MUOS team maneuvered the spacecraft into operational orbit, the Navy reported Thursday.The Lockheed Martin-built MUOS-5 satellite reached operational orbit four months after it launched aboard a United Launch Alliance-built Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as the final satellite to complete the service branch’s network constellation.
The satellite, which was scheduled to commence on-orbit on Nov. 3, encountered a problem with the propulsion system during launch that prevented the team to move the spacecraft toward its geosynchronous test orbit, according to the report.
“The system will undergo on-orbit testing before final acceptance of the system by the Navy and offering it up for operational use,” said Cmdr. Jason Pratt, MUOS principal assistant program manager.
“The satellite and its payloads will go through rigorous tests with our ground systems and terminals to make sure everything operates properly,†Pratt added.
The MUOS satellite constellation is designed to provide 3G-like mobile communications to users over the next 10 years and beyond, the service branch added.
