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ORBITAL'S PEGASUS ROCKET SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES U.S. AIR FORCE SATELLITE

Air-Launched Rocket Extends Flawless Record to Over 3 1/2 Years of Operations

Orbital's Recent Space Mission Record Reaches 86 Consecutive Successes

(Dulles, VA 7 June 2000) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that its air-launched Pegasus® rocket successfully boosted the U.S. Air Force's Tri-Service Experiments Mission 5 (TSX-5) satellite into its targeted orbit earlier today in a mission that originated from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The TSX-5 launch was the first Pegasus mission of 2000 and the 15th consecutive successful launch for the innovative rocket. It was also the 86th consecutive successful mission for the company's space technology products, including rockets, satellites, sensors and robotics.

Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The successful launch of the Air Force's TSX-5 satellite represents a very promising beginning for what we hope will be a highly successful mission for one of our most valued customers." Mr. Thompson added, "The successful launch also further demonstrates the maturity and reliability of our cost-effective space technology products."

At approximately 5:20 a.m. (PDT), the company's L-1011 Pegasus carrier aircraft took off from VAFB and flew about 80 miles off the California coast to a predetermined launch point over the Pacific Ocean. The Pegasus rocket was released at approximately 6:20 a.m. and, following a planned five-second free fall, ignited its first stage rocket motor. Approximately 14 minutes later, Pegasus deployed the TSX-5 satellite into its targeted elliptical orbit of approximately 406 km x 1706 km above the Earth, inclined at 69.0 degrees to the equator.

A team of Air Force and Orbital satellite engineers has established initial communications with the TSX-5 spacecraft and preliminary information indicates that it is operating as planned in the early stages of its mission.

About the Pegasus Rocket
Orbital's three-stage Pegasus rocket sets the standard in the small launch vehicle market, carrying satellites weighing up to 1,000 pounds into low-Earth orbit. Pegasus is carried aloft by the company-owned 'stargazer" L-1011 aircraft to an altitude approximately 40,000 feet over open ocean, where it is released and then free-falls in a horizontal position for five seconds before igniting its first stage rocket motor. This patented air-launch system has enabled Orbital to conduct launches from five separate sites in the United States and Europe, the first time a space launch vehicle has provided such operational flexibility.

About the TSX-5 Satellite
Under a contract with the U.S. Air Force, Orbital designed and built the 250-kg TSX-5 satellite at the company's Washington, D.C. metropolitan area satellite manufacturing facilities, and will provide technical support during its one-year mission. The TSX-5 spacecraft carries two research experiments intended to demonstrate advanced space technologies. Orbital has previously developed numerous spacecraft for Air Force space research missions, including APEX, REX II and the STEP series of small satellites.

Orbital is one of the world's leading manufacturers of cost-effective and highly reliable small spacecraft for low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous-Earth orbit missions. The company has built, delivered and launched over 85 satellites for communications, remote imaging and science and technology missions, which have amassed over 300 years of in-orbit experience. Customers for Orbital's satellites include commercial space companies, numerous U.S. Government agencies, as well as international private- and public-sector organizations.

About Orbital
Orbital is a space and information systems company that designs, manufactures, operates and markets a broad range of affordable space infrastructure systems, satellite access products and satellite services. These products and services include satellites and other space systems, launch vehicles, electronics and sensors, satellite ground systems and land information services, satellite-based navigation and communications products, and satellite-delivered communications, Earth imaging and other information services.

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