ULA launches Lockheed-built satellite, returning Atlas V rockets to flight

Centennial-based United Launch Alliance returned its Atlas V rockets to flight Friday morning, launching a U.S. Navy communications satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida.

The mission carried the Navy’s Mobile User Objective Systems (MUOS) satellite, the final satellite for an advanced communications network built by Jefferson County-based Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. (LMSS) to upgrade U.S. military data and voice communications.

The MUOS satellite system is designed to provide 16 times the network capacity for more than 55,000 military communications terminals in use worldwide that can be made MUOS-compatible, LMSS says.

“MUOS will be a game changer in communications for our service men and women on the front lines around the world,” said Mark Woempner, director of narrowband communications systems at Lockheed Martin. “Now that the Navy’s constellation is complete, we will continue to work with our government and industry teammates to further refine MUOS based on user feedback."

The satellite was assembled at the LMSS campus in Sunnyvale, California. The company employs about 13,000 people nationwide, about 4,000 of them at its headquarters campus southwest of Denver.

Friday's launch lifted off at 8:30 a.m. MT and released the MUOS-5 satellite in orbit just under three hours later. It was ULA's 108th consecutive successful mission since the company was formed in 2006.

“I am so proud of the team for all their hard work and commitment to 100 percent mission success,” said Laura Maginnis, ULA's vice president of custom services. “It is amazing to deliver our second national security payload from the Cape in just two weeks. I know this success is due to our amazing people who make the remarkable look routine.”

ULA launched a National Reconnaissance Office satellite into orbit June 11 using its Delta IV Heavy rocket.

Friday was the first test of an Atlas V rocket following a problem during a launch four months ago.

ULA grounded the Atlas Vs after a fuel-mixture anomaly occurred during a March 22 launch carrying cargo to resupply the International Space Station for Dulles, Virginia-based OrbitalATK and NASA.

An RD-180 engine powering the first stage of the Atlas V cut out six seconds early during the mission. The rocket’s upper stage compensated for the unexpected shortfall in thrust, getting the OrbitalATK Cygnus cargo container to its planned orbit for eventual docking at the ISS.

ULA and its engine supplier replaced valve hardware assemblies for the company's other RD-180s to ensure the problem doesn’t occur again.

ULA is a rocket-launch contractor, primarily for the U.S. military and NASA. The company is a 10-year-old joint venture of Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) and Chicago-based Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).

After a round of downsizing this year, it will employ about 3,400 people nationwide, about 1,600 of whom work in the Denver metro area.

ULA's next launch is of another Atlas V, a mission scheduled for July 28 carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.