[SatNews] Six leaders in diverse engineering disciplines are recognized for their expertise.

Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), a provider in the design, manufacture and operations of innovative satellites and launch vehicles, today announced that six of its senior scientists and engineers, selected from a technical staff of over 1,800 people, have been chosen as the company’s second group of Technical Fellows.  These new appointments are intended to recognize the highest levels of technical expertise across the company’s multiple business areas and operating locations.  The new Orbital Technical Fellows join five earlier Fellows appointed in 2007, who support active spacecraft, launch vehicle and other space technology programs; advance the company’s research and development efforts; provide mentorship to early-career engineers; and represent the company with professional associations and universities.

Orbital named the following six individuals, each with a dozen or more years of experience with the company, as its second group of Technical Fellows:

• Mr. Esteen Bottlinger, a specialist in structural dynamics and related mechanical systems, is a 17-year company veteran assigned to the Launch Systems Group in Chandler, Arizona.  He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering.
• Mr. Brian Class, a technical leader in satellite attitude control systems, has been with Orbital and a predecessor company for 29 years.  A director in the company’s Technical Operations organization, he holds a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering and is based in Dulles, Virginia.
• Dr. Albert Herman, an expert in space mission analysis and simulation, has been with Orbital and predecessor companies for 16 years. Based in Gilbert, Arizona and a member of the company’s Advanced Programs Group, he holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering.
• Dr. Prasad Maganty, one of the company’s most accomplished guidance and control engineers, is a 22-year Orbital veteran.  Currently the Deputy Chief Engineer in the Launch Systems Group in Chandler, Arizona, he holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D degrees in mechanical engineering.
• Mr. Bryan Sullivan, one of Orbital’s most experienced systems engineers, is a 23-year company veteran who works in the Technical Operations organization at Dulles, Virginia. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering.
• Mr. Brian Winters, who specializes in rocket propulsion systems, has been with Orbital for 15 years and currently leads the company’s propulsion-related work on its Antares medium launch vehicle in the Launch Systems Group.  Based in Dulles, Virginia, he holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering.

Commenting on the appointments, Orbital’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David W. Thompson, said, “I am very pleased to congratulate these six outstanding technical experts on their appointments as Orbital’s second group of Technical Fellows.  Their expertise and professional commitment place them among the top technical ranks in the space industry and set high standards for our company’s research, development and engineering teams.”

Orbital stated that the primary functions of its Technical Fellows fall into four broad categories, as outlined below:

• Providing on-call expertise to help address the most challenging technical problems encountered in the company’s satellite and rocket programs
Establishing or directing technical centers of excellence or advanced research laboratories within the company
• Mentoring younger technical professionals and representing the company to the outside engineering, scientific and educational communities
• Conceiving new and improved product ideas and pursuing early-stage R&D efforts with internal and external funds.

The company expects that a limited number of additional Technical Fellows will be named in  future years as its engineering and scientific workforce expands and its R&D needs increase.