Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 3: Space Vehicles
ES-23
(S-22)
 
Copyright © 2024 Andreas Parsch

Lockheed Martin ES-23 MUOS

MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) is a global narrow-band UHF satellite communication system of the US Military. It was originally fielded by the U.S. Navy, as a successor to the older UFO (UHF Follow-On) system. The prime contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2004, for delivery of five satellites, four ground stations and other associated equipment. By 2019, MUOS was declared fully operational, with 4 active satellites and one (MUOS-5) being held in reserve. In 2021, responsibility for MUOS was transferred from the Navy to the newly-established U.S. Space Force, which allocated the MDS designation ES-23A to the satellites.

Image: Lockheed Martin
ES-23A


Each ES-23A geostatioary satellite carries two communication payloads. The primary one is a so-called WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) radio, to transmit audio, video and data on an IP-based system at rates comparable to commercial 3G telephone networks. The second payload covers the UFO (UHF Follow-On) system, to preserve compatibilty of MUOS with older legacy sat-com terminals.

Name Intl. Designation Launch Notes
MUOS-12012-009A24-Feb-2012
MUOS-22013-036A19-Jul-2013
MUOS-32015-002A21-Jan-2015
MUOS-42015-044A02-Sep-2015
MUOS-52016-041A24-Jun-2016

Launch dates of the MUOS series

Main Sources

[1] Wikipedia: Mobile User Objective System
[2] Gunter Krebs: MUOS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
[3] USSF: Army, Navy SATCOM Mission Areas Shifting to U.S. Space Force


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Last Updated: 2 August 2024