A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-2) satellite for the United States Navy lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-41 at 9 a.m. This was ULA's 6th launch of an aggressive 12 mission schedule for the year and the 72nd ULA mission since its formation in 2006. MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve beyond-line-of-sight communications for U.S. forces on the move. MUOS will provide military users 10 times more communications capacity over the existing system by leveraging 3G mobile communications technology, and will provide simultaneous voice and data capability.
U.S. Air Force/Alan Walters
Taken on 19 July 2013
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