SpaceDev, subsidiary Starsys, Inc., was recently awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide antenna pointing gimbals for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) program, which is under direction of the U.S. Navy.
MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move.
The initial award is for two flight shipsets and includes two standard A2100 5-meter antenna gimbal assemblies, four Ka-Band antenna gimbal assemblies and two 14-meter gimbal assemblies. Options are included for 12 additional gimbals supporting three additional spacecraft.
The contract will include the development and qualification of the Ka-Band and 14-meter gimbal designs in addition to the standard gimbals and solar array deployment hinges Starsys has previously provided for the A2100 bus. Total contract value, with options exercised, exceeds $6 million.
"This is an important award for our Company that continues Starsys' long term support of Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft programs," said Mark N. Sirangelo, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of SpaceDev.
MUOS will replace the current narrowband tactical satellite communications system known as the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) system and provide mobile warfighters a considerable increase in communications capability with improved robustness in the presence of weather, foliage, or other environmental effects. The new communications system will provide ten times more throughput, or volume of information currently transmitted.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California, is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the MUOS program. The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, VA, and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, California, are responsible for the MUOS program. The first MUOS satellite is scheduled for on-orbit hand over to the Navy in 2010.
Robert Vacek, Starsys' President and General Manager commented, "With the completion of this contract we will have provided hardware for a large number of Lockheed Martin spacecraft, including antenna gimbals for several A2100 spacecraft programs. The inclusion of the 14M antenna gimbal development is particularly exciting as it broadens our gimbal product offerings, to include the pointing of large spacecraft structures and subsystems."
