MUBLCOM explained

MUBLCOM
Mission Type:Technology Demonstrator
Operator:DARPA
Cospar Id:1999-026B
Satcat:25736
Dry Mass:50kg (110lb)
Launch Mass:100kg (200lb)
Launch Rocket:Pegasus
Launch Site:Vandenberg
Launch Contractor:Orbital
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:726km (451miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:732km (455miles)
Orbit Inclination:97.7 degrees
Orbit Eccentricity:0.000384
Orbit Period:99.4 minutes
Apsis:gee

The Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Sight Communications (MUBLCOM) satellite (COSPAR 1999-026B, SATCAT 25736), built for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, was launched in May 1999 by a Pegasus. Its mission was to demonstrate a capability to provide space-based digital voice and data communications to combat forces or commercial users that were previously considered out of range of standard radio communications systems.

On April 15, 2005, the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft collided with the MUBLCOM satellite while attempting to rendezvous with it.

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