The deployment of the US military's largest mobile communication satellite network continues with the 4th of 5 satellites slated to join the fleet now on the iconic launch pad at Cape Canaveral waiting for liftoff.
MUOS-4 is the latest member of the under construction fleet of the US Navy's Mobile User Objective System, a.k.a. the new US military satellite 3G mobile communication system. Currently in testing mode, MUOS will eventually provide worldwide mobile data transfer capability that will be crucial to all US forces. With the satellite's huge 46-foot (14 meter) diameter reflector, "battlefield phone calls" from anywhere in the world, even at the poles, are now possible. This one follows the launch of MUOS-1 in February 2012, MUOS-2 in July 2013 and MUOS-3 this January.
Interestingly there's something new on this Atlas V - for the first time in its history, the Centaur upper stage, the interstage and the 500 series support structures were first integrated in an ex-Titan rocket processing facility before transferring to the vertical integrated facility at SLC-41 as a single piece. This shaves a few days off the processing schedule compared with directly lifting the individual pieces at the VIB, and also lowers the chance of adverse weather impacting the launch schedule:
With tropical storm Erika now gone from Florida, it's time to fly!
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Launch coverage: (starts 5:39 am EDT / 09:39 UTC)
Payload:
Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 551 configuration, denoting a 5-meter payload fairing, 5 strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
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Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on September 2, 2015 (6 a.m.)
Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 24C. Winds light and variable.
Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
6 AM|25°C|24°C|94%|15%|0%|69%|1017 hPa|3 km/h SW|
Mostly Cloudy
Links:
MUOS-4 is the latest member of the under construction fleet of the US Navy's Mobile User Objective System, a.k.a. the new US military satellite 3G mobile communication system. Currently in testing mode, MUOS will eventually provide worldwide mobile data transfer capability that will be crucial to all US forces. With the satellite's huge 46-foot (14 meter) diameter reflector, "battlefield phone calls" from anywhere in the world, even at the poles, are now possible. This one follows the launch of MUOS-1 in February 2012, MUOS-2 in July 2013 and MUOS-3 this January.
Interestingly there's something new on this Atlas V - for the first time in its history, the Centaur upper stage, the interstage and the 500 series support structures were first integrated in an ex-Titan rocket processing facility before transferring to the vertical integrated facility at SLC-41 as a single piece. This shaves a few days off the processing schedule compared with directly lifting the individual pieces at the VIB, and also lowers the chance of adverse weather impacting the launch schedule:
With tropical storm Erika now gone from Florida, it's time to fly!
Launch date:
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September 2, 2015
Window open:
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09:59 UTC / 5:59 a.m. EDT
Window close:
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10:43 UTC / 6:43 a.m. EDT
Launch site:
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SLC-41, CCAFS, Florida
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[highlight]L[eventtimer]2015-09-02 09:59:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
Mission Insignia
Launch coverage: (starts 5:39 am EDT / 09:39 UTC)
- ULA webcast: http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx
- ULA webcast 2: http://cmc-i.akamaihd.net/hls/live/201845/launch/index-launch.m3u8
- Spaceflight Now: http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/01/av-056-journal/
Payload:
The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move.
MUOS will provide military users 10 times more communications capability over existing systems, including simultaneous voice, video and data, leveraging 3G mobile communications technology.
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Operator:|
Contractors:|
Equipment:|
Configuration:|
Dimensions:|
Propulsion:|
Power:|
Data Rate:|
Launch Weight:|
Orbit:|
MUOS will provide military users 10 times more communications capability over existing systems, including simultaneous voice, video and data, leveraging 3G mobile communications technology.
Specifications
Type / Application:
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- Military mobile communication
Operator:|
- US Navy
Contractors:|
- Lockheed Martin
Equipment:|
- 46-foot primary UHF mesh reflector
- 17.7 foot legacy UFO system mesh reflector
Configuration:|
- A2100M
Dimensions:|
- ?
Propulsion:|
- ?
Power:|
- 2 deployable solar arrays
- batteries
Data Rate:|
- Up to 384 kbps on 4-5 MHz WCDMA channel
Launch Weight:|
- 6740 kg (3812 kg dry)
Orbit:|
- Geosynchronous orbit
Launch Vehicle:
The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.
The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 551 configuration, denoting a 5-meter payload fairing, 5 strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.
Specifications
Gross mass:
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- 573800 kg (1265000 lb)
Payload:
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- 18510 kg (40800 lb) LEO
- 8900 kg (19620 lb) GTO
Height:
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- 58.30 m (191.20 ft)
Diameter:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Span:
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- 3.81 m (12.49 ft)
Thrust:
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- 3827.00 kN (860343 lbf)
Launch Timeline & Ground Track:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on September 2, 2015 (6 a.m.)
Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 24C. Winds light and variable.
6 AM|25°C|24°C|94%|15%|0%|69%|1017 hPa|3 km/h SW|
Links:
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