page_title: Orbital Sciences Corporation
section_title: Science and environmental satellites
hierarchical_section_title: Orbital Sciences Corporation / Orbital products / Science and environmental satellites
caption_attribution_description: English: Artist concept of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite with transparent background.
context_page_description: Orbital Sciences Corporation was an American company specializing in the design, manufacture and launch of small- and medium- class space and rocket systems for commercial, military and other government customers. In 2014 Orbital merged with Alliant Techsystems to create a new company called Orbital ATK, Inc., which in turn was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2018. The remnants of the former Orbital Sciences Corporation today are a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman and is known as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.
  Orbital was headquartered in Dulles, Virginia and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol ORB. Orbital's primary products were satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that delivered satellites into orbit; missile defense systems that were used as interceptor and target vehicles; and human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions. Orbital also provided satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to government agencies and laboratories.
context_section_description: Orbital built Science and Environmental satellites conduct astrophysics, Remote sensing/Earth Observation, heliophysics, planetary exploration and technology demonstration missions. These satellites are built on Orbital's LEOStar-1,-2, or -3 satellite platforms depending on the mission requirements and budget.
  Astrophysics satellites 
  
  Orbital's current and heritage astrophysics satellites are as listed below:
  Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) for NASA/ MIT- launched in 2018
  Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) for NASA/ JPL- launched in 2012
  Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope for NASA GSFC- launched in 2008
  Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission for NASA GSFC- launched in 2004
  Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) for NASA GSFC- launched in 2003
  Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) for NASA/ Johns Hopkins University- launched in 1999
  Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) for NASA- launched in 1992
  Remote sensing/Earth observation 
  
  Orbital's current and heritage Remote Sensing/Earth Observation satellites are as listed below:
  Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) for NASA GSFC- launch expected in 2016
  Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) for NASA GSFC- launched in 2018
  Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) for NASA/JPL- launched in 2014
  Landsat 8 for NASA/USGS- launched in 2013
  Glory for NASA GSFC- launched in 2011 (did not achieve orbit due to a launch failure)
  Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) for NASA/JPL- launched in 2009 (did not achieve orbit due to a launch failure)
  Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) for NASA/Hampton University- launched in 2007
  FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC for National Space Organization Taiwan- launched in 2006
  Coriolis for Naval Research Laboratory and Air Force Research Laboratory- launched in 2003
  QuikTOMS for NASA GSFC- launched in 2001 (did not achieve orbit due to a launch failure)
  SeaStar for NASA/ORBIMAGE- launched in 1997
  MicroLab-1 for NASA/UCAR- launched in 1995
  TOPEX/Poseidon for NASA/CNES (France)- launched in 1992
  Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) for NASA- launched in 1991
  Landsat 5 for NASA/USGS- launched in 1984 (the satellite holds Guinness World Record for longest operating earth observing satellite)
  Landsat 4 for NASA/USGS- launched in 1982
  Heliophysics 
  
  Orbital's heritage Heliophysics satellites are as listed below:
  Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) for NASA/SwRI- launched in 2008
  Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) for NASA/LASP- launched in 2003
  Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) for NASA/ University of California, Berkeley- launched in 2002
  Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor Satellite (ACRIMSAT) for NASA/ JPL- launched in 1999
  Planetary exploration 
  
  Orbital's heritage Planetary Exploration Heliophysics satellites are as listed below:
  Dawn for NASA/ JPL- launched in 2007
  Deep Space 1 for NASA/ JPL- launched in 1998
caption: TESS satellite
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