-- Spacecraft Completes Series of Post-Launch Propulsive Maneuvers to
Reach Final Orbital Location --
-- Space-Based Observatory s Instrument Takes First Light Images;
Now in Final Check-out Phase in Preparation for Critical Science Mission
--
DULLES, Va.Aug. 12, 2014--
Orbital
Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world s leading space
technology companies, today announced the Orbiting
Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, built by the company for
NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, has successfully
arrived at its operational orbit at the head of a group of NASA and
international scientific satellites known as the Afternoon
Constellation, or A-Train, which fly in formation to collect
environmental data for the same location on Earth almost simultaneously.
The OCO-2 mission has achieved all checkout objectives on or ahead of
schedule since launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base just over a month
ago. The post-launch operations, including the critical maneuvering of
the satellite into the A-Train, have all gone very smoothly, said Mr.
Joseph Bushman, Orbital s OCO-2 Program Manager. With the instrument s
initial checkout complete and the return of the first science data, we
are very pleased to be able to support JPL as part of the OCO-2 team in
conducting this extremely important science mission.
The OCO-2 satellite was initially deployed into a 428-mile
(688-kilometer) polar orbit during the mission s launch operations that
took place on July 2, 2014. In the weeks that followed, satellite
controllers at Orbital s Dulles, VA Mission Operations Center (MOC)
successfully commanded OCO-2 through in-orbit tests of its critical
subsystems, as well as a series of nine orbit-raising maneuvers to reach
the A-Train orbit at 438 miles (705 kilometers) above the Earth. The
OCO-2 team also has successfully tested the onboard instrument, recently
capturing initial science data, known as first light, as it was
activated in preparation for the beginning of full science operations
later in 2014.
About the OCO-2 Satellite
Orbital designed the OCO-2 satellite for at least two years of
operations with single-axis articulated arrays and three-axis attitude
control to ensure high-precision positioning to support the Earth
observing instrument s operation. The company will manage the day-to-day
operations of the satellite from the company s MOC at its Dulles, VA
campus for the duration of the mission. At the time of its launch, OCO-2
was the 151st satellite Orbital had built and delivered to
commercial, civil government and national security customers over the
past 32 years. Four other Orbital-built satellites have since been
deployed, bringing the company s total satellite deliveries to 155,
which together have amassed approximately 1,100 years of in-orbit
experience.
About the A-Train
NASA and its international partners operate several Earth-observing
satellites that closely follow one after another along the same orbital
track. This coordinated group of satellites is called the Afternoon
Constellation, or the A-Train for short. The satellites are in a polar
orbit, crossing the Equator traveling northbound at about 1:30 p.m.
local time within a few minutes of each other and repeating the same
ground track every 16 days. This allows near-simultaneous observations
of a wide variety of parameters to aid the scientific community in
advancing man s knowledge of Earth-system science and applying this
knowledge for the benefit of society. Besides OCO-2, the current member
missions of the A-Train are GCOM-W1, Aqua, CALIPSO, CloudSat and Aura.
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
exploration 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 U.S. Government
agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found
at www.orbital.com.
Follow the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences.
Source: Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
beneski.barron@orbital.com