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An Atlas V launch vehicle carrying the US Navy fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) communications satellite lifts off from Space Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on 24 June. MUOS is the next-generation narrow band tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve beyond-line-of-sight communications for US forces on the move. (US Navy photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance/Released ©)

The US Navy’s fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite was launched on 24 June from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. MUOS-5 is an on-orbit spare and the final satellite in the five-satellite MUOS constellation. Later the same day it was reported that the satellite was successfully responding to commands from a Navy and Lockheed Martin team operating MUOS-5 from the Naval Satellite Operations Center, Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California.

MUOS is an Internet Protocol-based system designed to provide improved
communications capabilities to users around the world, regardless of where they
are in relation to a satellite, and will provide, it is reported, greater than ten times the bandwidth capacity compared with the current UHF constellation.