# Orbital Sciences Corporation

> former American company specializing in the manufacturing and launch of satellites

**Wikidata**: [Q1030096](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1030096)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_Sciences_Corporation)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orbital-sciences-corporation

## Summary
Orbital Sciences Corporation was an American public company that specialized in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Founded in 1982, it was a key player in the aerospace industry, known for its launch vehicles and satellite systems, including the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft. The company was headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, and operated as a Delaware corporation until its merger in 2015.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1982 by David W. Thompson.
- Merged into Orbital ATK in 2015, later becoming part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.
- Operated in the aerospace industry, focusing on satellite manufacturing and launch services.
- Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, United States.
- Operated as a Delaware corporation with a legal entity identifier I6X70PYZ7C0433S9EI44.
- Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ORB.
- Generated $1.37 billion in revenue in 2013.
- Employed approximately 3,300 people as of February 2014.
- Had total assets of $1.28 billion as of 2013.
- Operated primarily in the United States, with a formation location in Vienna, Virginia.
- Notable products include the Antares launch vehicle, Cygnus spacecraft, and Pegasus launch system.
- Dissolved via merger on February 9, 2015.

## FAQs
**What was Orbital Sciences Corporation?**  
Orbital Sciences Corporation was a public company that specialized in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. It was a major player in the aerospace industry, known for its Antares and Pegasus launch vehicles and the Cygnus spacecraft.

**When was it founded and by whom?**  
It was founded in 1982 by David W. Thompson. The company was based in Dulles, Virginia, and operated as a Delaware corporation.

**What did Orbital Sciences Corporation produce?**  
It produced several notable products, including the Antares and Pegasus launch vehicles and the Cygnus spacecraft, which were used for satellite deployment and cargo missions to the International Space Station.

**What happened to the company?**  
Orbital Sciences Corporation was merged into Orbital ATK in 2015 and later became part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

**Where was it based, and what was its legal structure?**  
It was headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, and operated as a Delaware corporation with a legal entity identifier. It was a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ORB.

**How many people did it employ?**  
As of February 2014, it employed approximately 3,300 people.

**What was its financial performance?**  
In 2013, it reported revenue of $1.37 billion and total assets of $1.28 billion.

## Why It Matters
Orbital Sciences Corporation played a critical role in the aerospace and satellite industry by providing cost-effective and reliable launch services and satellite systems. Its innovations, including the Pegasus and Antares launch vehicles and the Cygnus spacecraft, enabled cost-efficient access to space for both government and commercial missions. The company's work supported NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, delivering cargo to the International Space Station. Its legacy continues through Orbital ATK and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, which carry forward its contributions to space exploration and satellite deployment.

## Notable For
- Pioneering the development of the Pegasus air-launched rocket, a first in private spaceflight.
- Designing and operating the Antares launch vehicle and Cygnus spacecraft for NASA missions.
- Being a key supplier of launch services and satellite systems to both commercial and government clients.
- Operating as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ORB.
- Being a Delaware corporation that was dissolved through a merger into Orbital ATK in 2015.

## Body

### History
Orbital Sciences Corporation was founded in 1982 by David W. Thompson. The company was established in Vienna, Virginia, and grew to become a major player in the aerospace industry. It specialized in satellite manufacturing and launch services, with a focus on small- to medium-class space launch systems. The company was publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ORB. In 2015, it merged with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to form Orbital ATK, which later became part of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

### Products and Services
Orbital Sciences Corporation developed several key aerospace systems:
- **Pegasus**: A lightweight, air-launched space booster used for small satellite deployments.
- **Antares**: A medium-class launch vehicle designed for missions to the International Space Station.
- **Cygnus**: An uncrewed cargo spacecraft used for resupplying the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.

### Corporate Structure and Operations
- Operated as a Delaware corporation with a legal entity identifier I6X70PYZ7C0433S9EI44.
- Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ORB.
- Had total assets of $1.28 billion in 2013.
- Generated $1.37 billion in revenue in 2013.
- Employed approximately 3,300 people as of February 2014.
- Operated primarily in the United States, with headquarters in Dulles, Virginia.

### Mergers and Acquisitions
- In 2015, Orbital Sciences Corporation merged with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to form Orbital ATK.
- The merged entity was later acquired by Northrop Grumman, and the company's operations were integrated into Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

### Industry and Legacy
Orbital Sciences Corporation was classified as:
- A public company
- A launch service provider
- An enterprise
- An aerospace manufacturer

The company was a key contributor to the aerospace industry, particularly in the development of cost-effective launch systems and satellite technologies. Its innovations supported both commercial and government missions, including NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. The company's legacy continues through its successor organizations, which maintain its contributions to space exploration and satellite deployment.

### Key Personnel
- **David W. Thompson**: Founder of the company in 1982, served until 2015.

### Headquarters and Location
- Headquarters: 45101 Warp Drive, Dulles, Virginia, United States (20166)
- Formation Location: Vienna, Virginia

### Financials and Metrics
- Revenue (2013): $1.37 billion
- Total Assets (2013): $1.28 billion
- Employees (as of February 2014): 3,300

### Related Entities and Classifications
- Instance of: Public company, launch service provider, enterprise, aerospace manufacturer
- Industry: Aerospace
- Replaced by: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems
- Merged into: Orbital ATK
- Stock exchange: New York Stock Exchange (ORB)
- Product or material produced: Antares, Cygnus, Pegasus

### Online Presence and Identifiers
- Website: [http://www.orbital.com](http://www.orbital.com)
- Aliases: OSC, Orbital Sciences, オービタルサイエンス, オービタル・サイエンス, Орбитальная научная корпорация
- ISNI: 0000000095604579
- VIAF ID: 141010419
- ROR ID: 0367ybf51
- Ringgold ID: 143449
- Library of Congress Authority ID: no94003110
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007604863505171
- Scilit Organization ID: 118954
- LittleSis Organization ID: 331775
- Crunchbase Organization ID: orbital-sciences-corporation
- Quora Topic: Orbital-Sciences-Corporation
- Commons Category: Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Wikipedia Title: Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Topic's Main Category: Category:Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Wikipedia Languages: ar, azb, bg, ca, cs, de, en, es, fa, fi, fr, he, hu, id, it, ja, ko, lb, lv, nl, no, pt, ro, ru, sv, uk, zh

### Dissolution
Orbital Sciences Corporation was officially dissolved on February 9, 2015, following its merger with Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The combined entity was renamed Orbital ATK, which was later acquired by Northrop Grumman, integrating the company's operations into Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

## References

1. Global LEI Index
2. [Source](https://aerospace.org/person/mr-david-w-thompson)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/685564/20140224/AR_196115/#/1/)
6. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
7. Quora
8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
9. ROR release v1.37
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File