Commercial Launch and Mission to Send 10 Spacecraft to Orbit
DULLES, Va.Oct. 30, 2017--
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, today announced it is in final preparations to launch the
company s Minotaur C rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California,
on October 31 at approximately 2:37 p.m. PDT. The Minotaur C will carry
Planet s SkySat and Dove spacecraft, which will capture medium and high
resolution multispectral imagery of Earth at unprecedented scale and
frequency for the commercial market. Approximately 12 minutes into
flight the ten Planet spacecraft will deploy into their targeted sun
synchronous orbit 310 miles (500 kilometers) above the Earth.
We are looking forward to launching Planet s spacecraft, which will
provide incredible data for commercial use, said Rich Straka, Vice
President and General Manager of Orbital ATK s Launch Vehicles Division.
The Minotaur C provides an excellent low-cost option for small to
medium spacecraft providers.
The Minotaur C rocket is an all commercial vehicle capable of launching
payloads up to 3,500 lbs. The Minotaur C space launch vehicle is a
variant of the Minotaur product line designed to support U.S. government
and commercial customers. Minotaur C employs four Orbital ATK solid
rocket motors as its propulsion system, all of which have been flown
dozens of times and are thoroughly flight-proven in various combinations
on the company's other small space launch vehicles, including Pegasus,
Taurus and Minotaur, as well as on the Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)
long-range missile defense interceptor.
The constellation of seven SkySats, soon to be 13, is the world s
largest commercial fleet of high-res satellites operating in space.
Together, the Dove and SkySat network of remote sensing satellites
deliver a global information feed to businesses, governments, and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world.
Live coverage of the Minotaur launch will be available at www.orbitalatk.com
starting 20 minutes before liftoff. Details about the mission can also
be found on the website.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.

Source: Orbital ATK
Media Contact:
Orbital ATK
Trina Patterson, 801-699-0943
Launch
Vehicles Division Communications
trina.patterson@orbitalatk.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Orbital ATK
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com