The 2022 NDAA directs the Pentagon to brief lawmakers on military use of commercial satellite communications services, specifically those from non-geostationary orbit satellites.
A total of 11 Army and four Navy organizations are transferring to the Space Force
The results of the experiment could drive the design of a dedicated spacecraft to capture solar power in space.
The realignment does not affect the MUOS program. But any future narrowband satcom acquisition will be handled by the Air Force.
The company bested incumbent Intelsat General and one other company in winning a contract potentially worth $450 million to provide commercial satellite connectivity to the U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Navy was forced to postpone the final certification test of its next-generation mobile satellite communications system to December 2015 because of problems integrating the system’s new radio frequency waveform with the ground segment and terminals.
Lockheed Martin has delivered its third satellite in the U.S. Navy’s next-generation mobile communications program to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
The satellite is expected to launch in summer 2015.
The U.S. Navy has formally accepted three of a planned four General Dynamics-built ground stations for its next-generation mobile communications satellite program.
U.S. officials previously said crews would need 14 months to complete the project once work resumes, which leaves little margin given that MUOS is planned to be fully operational by 2015.