Orbital’s Latest Satellite Displaying Flawless Performance During Early In-Orbit Checkout

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that its latest satellite, the 250-kg Tri-Service
Experiments Mission 5 (TSX-5) spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force, is in
excellent health following a successful launch aboard a Pegasus rocket on June
7, 2000.
As a result of data gathered from initial tests, a team of Air Force
and Orbital satellite engineers has determined that the satellite’s main
systems are performing as expected.
The TSX-5 spacecraft is generating full
electrical power, indicating that its solar arrays are properly deployed.
Additionally, reliable communications between the satellite and its ground
control center, located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
have been established.
Once further in-orbit tests are completed over the
next several weeks, the research experiments aboard the TSX-5 satellite will
be activated to begin mission operations.

Mr. Robert R. Lovell, Orbital’s Executive Vice President and General
Manager of its Space Systems Group, stated, “Orbital is very pleased to have
played such a critical role in the successful beginning of the Air Force’s
TSX-5 mission.
Yesterday, Orbital’s Pegasus rocket delivered the spacecraft
into its targeted orbit and now, after 24 hours of in-orbit operations, it
appears to be a very healthy satellite. In addition to these promising early
mission results, we look forward to contributing to the overall success of the
TSX-5 program with continued in-orbit technical support for the remainder of
the mission.”

Under a contract from 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.
Orbital will also provide technical
support for the duration of 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.

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.