-- Company to Launch Six Commercial High-Resolution Imaging Spacecraft for New Customer Aboard Commercial Version of Minotaur Rocket in Late 2015 --
We are very pleased to have been selected by Skybox Imaging for this
exciting opportunity, said Mr.
The Minotaur-C rocket will use four solid rocket motors supplied by ATK
as its propulsion system, all of which have been flown dozens of times
and thoroughly flight-proven in various combinations on Orbital s other
small space launch vehicles, including Pegasus, Taurus and Minotaur, as
well as on the company s Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV) long-range missile
defense interceptor. It will also incorporate numerous design features
that are common with the Minotaur product line, such as the rocket s
electrical power system, payload fairing, flight termination system,
navigation sensors and RF components. In addition, the Minotaur-C will
utilize its SkySat satellite dispenser, currently in design by the
Minotaur team, which will be built and tested at the company s
Orbital s family of small space launch vehicles provides reliable right-sized launch services that are the industry standard for boosting small payloads to orbit. From the innovative air-launched Pegasus to traditional ground-launched rockets like the Minotaur family of launchers, Orbital s small-class launch vehicles share flight-proven propulsion, avionics, engineering teams, production and testing facilities, and management systems to provide low-cost and reliable access to space.
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 the company on Twitter @OrbitalSciences.
About Skybox Imaging
Skybox Imaging (Skybox) empowers global businesses to make better decisions with timely, high fidelity imagery and infinite analytics. By combining the power of web technologies and a constellation of high-resolution imaging satellites, Skybox is generating a unique data source describing daily global activity with timely, accessible, sub-meter color imagery and high definition video of the Earth. Founded in 2009, Skybox Imaging is backed by leading venture firms and comprised of internet and aerospace professionals. For more information, visit www.skybox.com.
Source:
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
beneski.barron@orbital.com