Orbital Sciences Corporation: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Orbital was founded in 1982 by David Thompson, Bruce Ferguson and Scott Webster. In 1990, the company successfully carried out eight space missions, highlighted by the initial launch of the [[Pegasus rocket]], the world's first privately-developed space launch vehicle. In 2006 Orbital conducted its 500th mission since the company’s founding. |
Orbital was founded in 1982 by David Thompson, Bruce Ferguson and Scott Webster.<ref>[http://www.orbital.com/About/Milestones/80_89/]</ref> In 1990, the company successfully carried out eight space missions, highlighted by the initial launch of the [[Pegasus rocket]], the world's first privately-developed space launch vehicle.<ref>[http://www.orbital.com/About/Milestones/90_99/]</ref> In 2006 Orbital conducted its 500th mission since the company’s founding. |
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==Orbital Products== |
==Orbital Products== |
Revision as of 14:58, 27 July 2008
File:Orbital Sciences.gif | |
Company type | Public (NYSE: ORB) |
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Industry | Aerospace and Defense |
Founded | 1982 |
Founder | David W. Thompson ![]() |
Headquarters | Dulles, Virginia |
Key people | David W. Thompson, CEO J.R. Thompson, COO Garrett E. Pierce, CFO |
Products | Space Launch Vehicles, Missile Defense Systems, Satellites and Related Systems, Advanced Space Systems, Space Technical Services, Transportation Management Systems |
Revenue | $703.45M USD (FY 2005) |
Total assets | 1,280,000,000 United States dollar (2013) ![]() |
Number of employees | 2,900 (2006) |
Divisions | Launch Systems Group Space Systems Group Advanced Programs Group Transportation Management Systems |
Website | www.orbital.com |
Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC, though commonly referred to as Orbital) is a Dulles, Virginia company which specializes in satellite launch and manufacture. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems. Orbital formerly owned ORBIMAGE (now GeoEye) and the Magellan line of GPS receivers, though they are now divested (the latter to Thales). Orbital's NYSE ticker symbol is ORB. This company should not be confused with the Australian Orbital.
History
Orbital was founded in 1982 by David Thompson, Bruce Ferguson and Scott Webster.[1] In 1990, the company successfully carried out eight space missions, highlighted by the initial launch of the Pegasus rocket, the world's first privately-developed space launch vehicle.[2] In 2006 Orbital conducted its 500th mission since the company’s founding.
Orbital Products
Satellite launch vehicles
- Minotaur
- Pegasus
- Taurus
- OSP-2 Minotaur IV, a satellite launching version of the LG-118A Peacekeeper
- Taurus II (in development)
Experimental vehicles
- X-34 reusable launch vehicle demonstrator
- Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV) for the Army's Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
- Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI)
- Ballistic target vehicles
- Suborbital rocket testbeds
GEO Satellites
- STAR 2 platform
- At its Dulles, Virginia plant Orbital builds medium-sized spacecraft based on the company's STAR 2 platform. Both payloads of a recent Ariane 5 launch — Optus D2 and Intelsat 11 were built on the STAR 2 platform.[3]
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LEO satellites
Planetary probes
Client Countries
- Australia
- France
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Taiwan
- United States
Other
- DART Rendezvous Vehicle
- Hyper-X
- Orbital Space Plane
- Crew Exploration Vehicle (within the team of Lockheed Martin)
- NASA's Dawn Mission
- GQM-163A Coyote
- Cygnus spacecraft under COTS
Launch Sites
Orbital's launch vehicles have been staged from many sites worldwide. These include:
- Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California
- Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAS) in Florida
- Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in Virginia
- Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska
- Edwards Air Force Base in California
- Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands
- Canary Islands in Spain
- Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Hawaii
Space Systems Group
[June 6, 2001] Orbital's Space Systems Group designs, manufactures and supports the operation of low-orbit and geosynchronous orbit satellites and related spacecraft systems. During the last five years, SSG has successfully developed, built, tested and deployed 46 satellites; the group currently has 15 additional satellites under design or in production.[citation needed] SSG also provides space-related technical services to NASA, the Department of Defense, and other U.S. Government agencies. SSG currently employs approximately 1,000 people and generated revenues of over $200 million in 2000.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^
"Arianespace boosts Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 into orbit". Arianespace. 2007-10-05.
{{cite web}}
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |