Space: It Spoils The View

Archives

January 29, 2013: Leftists and environmentalists are trying to block the construction of a ground station in Italy for the new MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) military communications system. The large satellite dishes in Sicily are criticized for ruining the view in a rural area and threatening world peace. The other three ground stations (one for each satellite) are in North America, Hawaii, and Australia.

Although the U.S. is paying for nearly all of MUOS, allies like NATO and Australia will be able to use it. MUOS will give military users cell-phone-like capabilities anywhere in the world. Four communications satellites operating in 36,000 kilometer stationary (geosynchronous) orbits provide superior satellite phone service that is also encrypted and capable of working despite being in forests or most buildings. In effect, MUOS can replace cell phone towers in any area on the planet once the signals from one of the four satellites are aimed at the area of operations. The complete system is supposed to be active by 2016. The first satellite went up last February.

   
 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close