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ORBITAL SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS THE INAUGURAL LAUNCH OF THE OSP ROCKET FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE

Company's Third Space Launch in Less than Two Months Deploys 11 Small Satellites

(Dulles, VA 27 January 2000) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that it successfully carried out the inaugural launch of the U.S. Air Force's new Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP) space launch vehicle, delivering 11 satellites and two scientific experiments into their targeted orbits. The mission originated from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California last night (January 26, 2000) at 10:03 p.m. EST when the OSP rocket lifted off from Spaceport System International's new commercial launch pad, commencing its first flight into low-Earth orbit. Approximately 13 minutes later, the OSP vehicle began deploying its multiple satellite payloads into orbit at an altitude of approximately 405 nautical miles above the Earth.

"After three consecutive years of near flawless performance from 1997 to 1999, we are delighted to begin our 2000 launch activities with another successful mission, especially with the first flight of the OSP rocket," said Mr. Ron Grabe, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Orbital's Launch Systems Group. "We are extremely proud of the work we have done on this program for the Air Force, which has given the nation an entirely new space launch capability."

The OSP mission was Orbital's third space launch in less than two months, using three different types of company-built rockets. On December 4, Orbital's air-launched Pegasus rocket carried seven ORBCOMM satellites to their proper orbit, and then on December 20 its ground-launched Taurus rocket launched the Republic of Korea's KOMPSAT satellite and NASA's ACRIMSAT spacecraft. In total, over the past two months, Orbital successfully conducted three space launch missions, using three different vehicle configurations that deployed 20 satellites, eight of which were built by the company.

The OSP rocket is made up of a combination of deactivated Minuteman II rocket motors that serve as the vehicle's first and second stages, and technology from Orbital's Pegasus XL rocket for the vehicle's third and fourth stages and for guidance and control support. Orbital is under contract to the Air Force to perform all integration, testing and launch operations for the program. For more information about the OSP launch vehicle, visit http://www.losangeles.af.mil/SMC/PA/Fact_Sheets/minotaur_fs.html

The OSP rocket carried and deployed a total of 11 satellites during this mission. Once the rocket reached the proper orbital altitude, it deployed the Joint Air Force Academy/Weber State University (JAWSAT) multi-payload adapter, which contained four primary satellite payloads: the U.S. Air Force Academy's FalconSat, Arizona State University's ASUSAT (a student-built payload that has been sponsored by Orbital from its inception through launch), Stanford University's OPAL satellite (which then deployed six additional "pico-satellites" it contained) and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Optical Calibration Sphere Experiment. Two experiments also attached to the multi-payload adapter are NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's Plasma Experiment Satellite and Weber State University's Attitude Controlled Platform. For more information about the mission's payloads, visit http://cast.weber.edu/jawsat

Orbital is one of the largest space technology and satellite services companies in the world, with 1999 revenues targeted to exceed $900 million. The company, which is headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, employs over 5,200 people at its major facilities in the United States, Canada and several overseas locations. Orbital is the world's leading manufacturer of low-cost space systems and products, including satellites, launch vehicles, electronics and sensors, satellite ground systems and software, and satellite-based navigation and communications products. Through its ORBCOMM and ORBIMAGE affiliates and ORBNAV subsidiary, Orbital is also a pioneering operator of satellite-based networks that provide data communications, high-resolution imagery and automotive information services to customers around the world.

Contact: Barron Beneski, 7034065000, beneski.barron@orbital.com