Lockheed Martin [LMT] has achieved a key milestone in the development of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) with the successful completion of static loads testing of the first satellite in the program constellation, the company said.
MUOS is expected to provide significantly improved and assured communications for U.S. mobile warfighters.
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, Pa., and ATK [ATK], Corona, Calif., according to Lockheed Martin.
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, the company said.
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 company added.
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, while 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 Lockheed Martin’s facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., later this year for the start of final assembly, integration and testing, the company added.