Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) is expanding its workforce in the Southern California area with the opening of a new engineering and technology center in the Fall of this year. In order to augment Orbital's launch vehicle and space systems engineering capabilities, the company is finalizing plans to establish a West Coast office to tap the wealth of aerospace engineering expertise in the Southern California area. Initially, Orbital expects to employ 30 to 40 engineers in support of Orbital's Taurus II space launch vehicle as well as the company's missile defense efforts, and to monitor the work of suppliers in the region. The company is leasing offices in the Huntington Beach, California area, with planned occupancy this October. The new office is in addition to Orbital's current California workforce that is currently based at Vandenberg Air Force Base and at NASA's Ames Research Center. When fully staffed, the technical center will bring Orbital's California-based workforce to over 150 people. Although the initial focus of activity at the center will be related to launch vehicles, future growth is envisioned to be fueled by the company's expanding presence in the market for national security and interplanetary space systems, serving customers with operations in the Los Angeles vicinity. In addition, enhanced supplier management of area subcontractors on company satellite and rocket programs will be conducted from the new office.