Next gen satellite to be tested during Arctic Shield 2014: From studying the effects of solar activity to improve radio transmissions to enhancing the capabilities of Automated Identification Systems, the importance of having a reliable communications infrastructure in the Arctic has not been lost on researchers traveling aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy as part of Arctic Shield 2014.
The ability to send and receive a clear message quickly to prevent or respond to a maritime emergency is vital to the safety of crews transiting the Arctic.
The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is the U.S. Navy's next generation narrowband military satellite communications system that will replace the legacy Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UHF-FO) communications system before that system reaches its end of service life.
Engineers from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, the creators of MUOS, are aboard the Healy to test the system's capabilities in the Arctic for the Department of Defense.
"A single MUOS satellite will provide four times the capacity of the entire legacy UFO constellation of eight satellites," said Dr. Amy Sun, narrowband advanced program lead for Lockheed Martin traveling aboard the Healy.
"The MUOS constellation is designed to provide smartphone-like communications to mobile forces at rates 10 times faster than the legacy system
