The $700,000 contract was awarded this month by the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, for six months of work on the Advanced Narrowband System/Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) studies.

The HSC team will explore alternatives for a system that will replace the current Navy Fleet Satellite Communications (FltSatCom) satellites and Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) communications satellite constellation over the next two decades.

Advances would include higher-rate data transmission, paging and mobile handheld voice communications, using new government-owned satellites, ground and user equipment (the MUOS segment) and commercially available mobile communications services.

The study contract could lead to a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar production contract for the MUOS system starting in 2003.

The UFO system currently provides narrowband tactical satellite communications to Defense Department warfighters. The first satellite was launched in 1993. The constellation will begin to reach the end of its operating life early in the next century.

HSC team members include Boeing Information and Communications Systems (I&CS) of Anaheim, Calif., which will provide expertise in ground and user terminals; and Science Applications International Corporation, (SAIC), San Diego, which will provide systems engineering and network architecture support.

"As the supplier of the Navy's two most recent UFO satcom systems, HSC is gratified to be able to expand on that experience with this study for the Advanced Narrowband Concept," said Tig H. Krekel, HSC President and CEO.

"We selected Boeing, SAIC and the other members of our team to cover all the bases, because they're familiar with the customer and the system requirements. We believe our team offers the Navy the best available technology from the commercial world as well as options for DOD-dedicated equipment," added Krekel.

HSC built the LEASAT satellite system, which the Navy recently retired in favor of the UFO satellites. The first of those went into service in 1993, and HSC is scheduled to launch the 10th in the series Sunday (Nov. 21) from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Navy ordered an 11th UFO satellite from Hughes last week.

SAIC

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Space

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

SPACEDAILY

Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.