Iris Bombelyn: Lockheed-Built MUOS-3 to Undergo On-Orbit Testing Before Turnover to US Navy

Lockheed Martin is set to perform on-orbit testing on the third Mobile User Objective System satellite built for the U.S. Navy following the Jan. 20 launch of the satellite.

The MUOS-3 took off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and responded to commands from Lockheed’s team at the Point Mugu, California-based Naval satellite operations center, Lockheed Martin said Tuesday.

Iris Bombelyn, vice president of narrowband communications at Lockheed Martin, said the company will deliver the asset to the Navy once “on-orbit health checks” are completed.

“The addition of this satellite will give the MUOS constellation coverage over more than three-quarters of the globe, further extending the reach of the advanced communications capabilities MUOS will provide our mobile warfighters,” Bombelyn added.

MUOS-3 will transition to reach its geosynchronous orbit location over the next nine days prior to the deployment of solar arrays and antennas.

Lockheed Martin built the satellite system at its Sunnyvale, California-based manufacturing facility.