A maneuver to place a spare satellite for the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System into a circular orbit went wrong on Jun. 29 and it left the MUOS-5 satellite in an “intermediate” orbit.
By US Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command says it is working closely with manufacturer of MUOS-5 – Lockheed Martin – to try and resolve the issue.
The service assured in a statement that the satellite is “currently stable, safe and under positive control.”
The Mobile User Objective System uses the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) to provide military communications to war fighters with mobile phone-like capabilities.