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SpaceUnited States

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

Narrowband military communications constellationIn serviceFielded 2012Pending verification
SpaceUSA
Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)
Photo: Courtesy photo, U.S. Government / DVIDS · Public domain, DVIDS
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeNarrowband military communications constellation
Date of introduction2012
ProliferationAt least 2 countries
Satellites5Four operational plus one on-orbit spareMed[1]
First launch2012Med[1]
ContractorsLockheed MartinMed[1]
Program statusTwo more satellites targeted by 2030 (Boeing, $2 billion); Canada first allied user (IOC June 2024)Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Mass3,813 kg8,406 lb8,405 lb including 6,450 lb of fuelMed[1]
Mission
MissionUHF narrowband BLOS voice, chat and data, 89.5°N to 65°SMed[1]
Orbit
Orbit regimeGEOHigh[1]
Design life14 yearsMed[1]
Catalogued on orbit5Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High[2]
Active (CelesTrak)5Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med[2]
Perigee34,924–35,573 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Apogee36,000–36,649 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Orbital period1,436.1 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Inclination1.91–5.77 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High[2]
Catalogued satellites · 5[2]
NameNORADCOSPARPerigee kmApogee kmIncl. °Period minStatus
MUOS-1380932012-009A35,57336,0005.771436.1Active
MUOS-2392062013-036A35,54036,0355.281436.1Active
MUOS-3403742015-002A35,53536,0394.81436.1Active
MUOS-4408872015-044A35,56836,0054.61436.1Active
MUOS-5416222016-041A34,92436,6491.911436.1Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-08 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

UHF narrowband satellite system giving mobile forces cellular-like voice, chat and data; replaces UFO.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United StatesCanada
Sources
  1. Mobile User Objective System (weapons and platforms entry), Air & Space Forces Magazine
    Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
  2. NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
    Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08
Change log
  • 2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
  • 2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 5 catalogued, 5 active.