The Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Sight Communications (MUBLCOM) satellite (COSPAR 1999-026B, SATCAT 25736), built for
the Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a meton ...
'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.
References
* http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/148072main_DART_mishap_overview.pdf
* http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/payload/missions/terriers/
Communications satellites
Satellites orbiting Earth
Spacecraft launched in 1999
Satellite collisions
Spacecraft launched by Pegasus rockets
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