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Orbital Successfully Launches First Antares Rocket - April 21, 2013

Orbital Successfully Launches First Antares Rocket

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NASA PARTNER ORBITAL SCIENCES TEST LAUNCHES ANTARES ROCKET - April 21, 2013

NASA PARTNER ORBITAL SCIENCES TEST LAUNCHES ANTARES ROCKET

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Orbital Sciences Successfully Completes First Launch of New Antares Launch Vehicle - April 21, 2013

Orbital Sciences Successfully Completes First Launch of New Antares Launch Vehicle

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Antares A-ONE Update - April 18, 2013

Antares A-ONE Test Flight Update

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MARS Pad 0A Path to Antares A-ONE Mission - April 16, 2013

A-ONE Pre-Launch News Conference - MARS

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Media Tour of Pad 0A - Handout - April 16, 2013

Media Tour of Pad 0A - Handout, showing key elements in pad design

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MARS Pad 0A - Antares A-ONE Mission Updates - April 16, 2013

MARS Pad 0A - Antares A-ONE Mission Updates, with link to streaming video

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Orbital Successfully Conducts First Stage "Hot Fire" Test of Antares Space Launch Vehicle - February 22, 2013

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Friday, February 22, 2013

Press Release

Contact: BarronBeneski, (703) 406-5000, beneski.barron@orbital.com
Orbital Successfully Conducts First Stage "Hot Fire" Test of Antares Space Launch Vehicle
-- Company Completes Final Ground Testing on New Medium-Class Launch Vehicle -- -- Next Program Milestone: Test Flight From Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility -- (Dulles, VA 22 February 2013) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced it successfully conducted an extended-duration “hot fire” test of the first stage propulsion system of its new Antares™ medium-class rocket. Developed over a four-plus-year period, Antares will be used to launch cargo supply missions to the International Space Station as part of a $1.9 billion contract with NASA. The 29-second hot fire test took place at 6:00 p.m. (EST) on February 22, 2013 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s (MARS) Pad 0A, which was designed and built over the last several years to accommodate liquid-fuel space launch vehicles. The primary goals of the test were to ensure that the launch complex’s fueling systems and the Antares stage one test article functioned properly in a fully operational environment, that engine ignition and shut down commands operated as designed, and that the dual AJ26 first stage engines and their control systems performed to specifications in the twin-engine configuration. The test included a full propellant loading sequence, launch countdown and engine ignition operation. The pad’s high-volume water deluge system flowed throughout the entire period of the test to protect the pad from damage and for noise suppression. “Our initial assessment of the test data shows that we were successful in achieving each of the primary objectives we had hoped to accomplish going into the test,” said Mr. Mike Pinkston, Orbital’s Antares Program Manager. “We will now turn our attention to the next major milestone for the Antares program, which is the inaugural flight of the rocket. I know that I speak for the entire Antares team when I say we are beyond excited to know that our newest rocket will take to the skies in just a matter of weeks.” With the hot fire test complete, Orbital will purge and clean the engines of residual propellants and return the first stage test unit to the vehicle integration facility for full reconditioning. Shortly after completing pad and fueling systems post-test inspections and performing any necessary reconditioning work, Orbital will roll out the first complete two-stage Antares rocket to prepare it for the test flight, which is expected to take place in approximately six weeks. Orbital is scheduled to conduct two launches under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Space Act Agreement with NASA in 2013. In addition, the company will launch eight operational cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) using Antares vehicles from late 2013 through 2016 under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The COTS and CRS flights will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia, which is ideally suited for ISS missions, and can also accommodate launches to other orbits. In addition, Orbital is currently evaluating its options for development of a west coast launch site that would enable the Antares rocket to address an even wider range of customer missions. The Antares medium-class launch system will provide a significant increase in the payload launch capability that Orbital can provide to NASA, the U.S. Air Force and other customers. The Antares rocket will be able to launch up to 14,000 lbs. into low-Earth orbit, as well as lighter-weight payloads into higher-energy orbits. Orbital’s newest launcher is currently on-ramped to both the NASA Launch Services-2 and the U.S. Air Force’s Orbital/Suborbital-3 contracts, enabling the two largest U.S. government space launch customers to order Antares for “right-size and right-price” launch services for medium-class spacecraft. About Orbital Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com. Follow Orbital on Twitter @OrbitalSciences. # # #

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Date: 02/23/2013 00:32:51

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NASA PARTNER ORBITAL TESTS ROCKET, NEWEST U.S. LAUNCH PAD - February 22, 2013

Trent J. Perrotto

Headquarters, Washington Feb. 22, 2012

202-358-1100

trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov

Josh Byerly

Johnson Space Center, Houston

281-483-5111

josh.byerly@nasa.gov

Jeremy L. Eggers

Wallops Flight Facility, Va.

757-824-2958

jeremy.l.eggers@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-053

NASA PARTNER ORBITAL TESTS ROCKET, NEWEST U.S. LAUNCH PAD

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- NASA commercial partner Orbital Sciences of Dulles, Va., successfully conducted an engine test of its Antares rocket Friday at the nation's newest launch pad.

The company fired dual AJ26 rocket engines for the full duration 29 seconds while the rocket was bolted down on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. Known as a "hot fire" test, it demonstrated the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems to support upcoming test flights.

"This pad test is an important reminder of how strong and diverse the commercial space industry is in our nation," said Phil McAlister, director of Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "A little more than one year after the retirement of the space shuttle, we had a U.S company resupplying the International Space Station. Now, another is taking the next critical steps to launch from America's newest gateway to low-Earth Orbit. Today marks significant progress for Orbital, MARS and the NASA team."

Orbital is building and testing its new rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. A demonstration flight of Antares and Cygnus to the space station is planned for later this year. After the successful completion of the COTS demonstration mission to the station, Orbital will begin conducting eight planned cargo resupply flights to the orbiting laboratory through NASA's $1.9 billion Commercial Resupply Services contract with the company.

Wallops, which has launched more than 16,000 rockets in its 67-year history, provided launch range support for the hot-fire test, including communications, data collection, range safety and area clearance.

NASA initiatives like COTS are helping to develop a robust U.S. commercial space transportation industry with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. NASA's Commercial Crew Program also is working with commercial space partners to develop capabilities to launch U.S. astronauts from American soil in the next few years.

For more information about the upcoming Orbital test flights, and links to NASA's COTS and Commercial Crew programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/orbital

-end-

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Orbital Successfully Conducts First State “Hot Fire” Test of Antares Space Launch Vehicle - February 22, 2013

Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2012

Office of the Governor

Contact: Jeff Caldwell

Phone: (804) 225-4260

Email:Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.Gov

Orbital Successfully Conducts First State “Hot Fire” Test of Antares Space Launch Vehicle

RICHMOND - Governor McDonnell heartily congratulates Orbital Sciences Corporation on a successful Hot Fire test of their new Antares space launch vehicle from the new launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, VA. The 29-second hot fire test took place this evening at MARS Pad 0A, which was designed and built over the last several years to accommodate liquid-fuel space launch vehicles.

“Tonight we witnessed a major step forward in advancing commercial space flight at Wallops Island” said Governor McDonnell. “Virginia stands proud in having played such a significant role in this historic event and I commend Orbital Sciences Corporation, the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (VCSFA) and MARS for making this event happen. We serve a key role in national security as one of only four states in the United States that is licensed by the FAA to launch to orbit. The Commonwealth is ready to continue supporting Orbital in launching Antares on cargo resupply missions to the ISS as well as any other future missions.”

Orbital, a northern Virginia based corporation, is scheduled to conduct two launches under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Space Act Agreement with NASA in 2013. In addition, the company will launch eight operational cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), using Antares vehicles from late 2013 through 2016 under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. The COTS and CRS flights will continue to launch from MARS Pad 0A, located on NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia, which is ideally suited for ISS missions, and can also accommodate launches to other orbits of interest.

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