...a significant space operational milestone. The fleet of satellites that Orbital designed, built and, in some cases, launched, recently marked 1,000 years of cumulative in-orbit operational experience. This achievement has been accomplished by only four other companies since the dawn of the space age. Today, 81 of the 146 total spacecraft Orbital built over the last 30 years are fully operational, fulfilling their missions for customers in the fields of commercial communications, Earth and space science, national security, commercial imaging and others. Each day, these active spacecraft add over two and a half months to the company’s cumulative in-orbit operating experience.

“This milestone is a testament to the robust design of Orbital’s satellite platforms and the rigorous testing process that each spacecraft undergoes prior to launch,” said Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout Orbital’s 30-year history, our focus has been on designing and building space systems that offer our customers an ideal combination of performance, affordability and, most important of all, reliability.”

The 146 satellites built by Orbital and its predecessor companies have been deployed into low-, medium- and geosynchronous-altitude orbits, as well as into higher-energy Earth-escape trajectories. Of the satellites constructed by the company, 77 were built and launched for commercial communications and imaging customers and 69 were contracted by and delivered to government customers, such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and several international government customers. Orbital built its satellite design and manufacturing business not only through internal investments, but also through a series of strategic acquisitions that brought important technical capabilities, modern facilities and a talented workforce into the company, whose experience has added to Orbital’s legacy.