Key Navy Satellite Launches Friday

Depending on the weather, the Navy on Friday plans to launch its first Mobile User Objective System from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch originally was planned for last week but was scrubbed because of bad weather.

United Launch Alliance said the current forecast shows a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch for the first of four satellites in the $2 billion MUOS program.

MUOS is designed to replace an aging fleet of satellites -- one is 17 years old -- which provide voice and data service to tactical military users aboard ships or equipped with backpack satellite radios.