Several Alliant Techsystems' Structures Used on Navy Satellite

The Navy says the satellite will function much like a cell tower in space

A U.S. Navy communications satellite recently launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., contains structures built in San Diego by Alliant Techsystems Inc.

ATK’s San Diego business built the multibeam antenna support structure, antenna reflectors and tower structures, solar array substrates, yokes and booms.

The Navy says the satellite will function much like a cell tower in space, and it will serve other branches of the armed services. The satellite’s name is MUOS-2; the letters stand for Mobile User Objective System. The Navy plans to launch five MUOS satellites.

ATK’s San Diego plant has already built the bus, or the skeleton, for the fourth and fifth satellites in the series, according to a company spokeswoman. The bus is the largest component on the satellite.

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, or Spawar, is responsible for the MUOS program, as is the San Diego-based Communications Satellite Program Office.

ATK is based in Arlington, Va. It reported revenue of $4.36 billion in fiscal 2013. 

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