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The Orbital Sciences X-34 was intended to be a low-cost testbed for demonstrating "key technologies" that could be integrated into the Reusable Launch Vehicle program. It was intended to be an autonomous pilotless craft powered by a " Fastrac " liquid-propellant rocket engine, capable of reaching Mach 8 and performing 25 test flights per year.
Orbital Science made a number of strategic acquisitions in the 1990s and 2000s to strengthen its position in the satellite market. In 1994, Orbital completed acquisition of Fairchild Industries' subsidiary Space and Defense Corporation, and merged the Fairchild Space business with its own satellite design and manufacturing division. [11]
X-60A (GOLauncher 1) Air-launched sounding rocket 1 + airplane Suborbital Development Unknown [69] [70] GOLauncher 2 Air-launch-to-orbit 2 + airplane LEO Development Unknown Independence-X Aerospace: DNLV (Dedicated Nano Launch Vehicle) Light rocket 2 LEO Development 2023 (planned) [71] [72] Interorbital Systems: NEPTUNE N series Light rocket 3 ...
Stargazer was also used for captive tests and transportation of the X-34 hypersonic research aircraft; however, the drop tests used Balls 8. Stargazer in Orbital Sciences livery launches Pegasus carrying the three Space Technology 5 satellites in 2006. Pegasus launches using Stargazer are usually conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The first phase of CRS contracts (CRS-1) were signed in 2008 and awarded $1.6 billion to SpaceX for twelve Dragon 1 and $1.9 billion to Orbital Sciences [note 1] for eight Cygnus flights, covering deliveries to 2016. The first operational resupply missions were flown by SpaceX in 2012 [2] and Orbital in 2014 . [3]
On 19 February 2008, the second round selection was made to Orbital Sciences Corporation, for the Cygnus spacecraft. [25] NASA's selection statement showed that Orbital beat Boeing on expected lower costs and the added benefit of a new medium lift launcher Taurus II with Andrews, PlanetSpace and Spacehab being eliminated on funding concerns. [26]
Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 1 Standard 9 January 2014, 18:07:05 Antares 120: 2,780 lb (1,260 kg) Success [28] [29] [33] [30] First Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) mission for Cygnus, first Antares launch using the Castor 30B upper stage. 3 Orb-2 Janice E. Voss: Orbital Sciences CRS Flight 2 Standard 13 July 2014, 16:52:14 Antares 120
Space launch market competition is the manifestation of market forces in the launch service provider business. [1] In particular it is the trend of competitive dynamics among payload transport capabilities at diverse prices having a greater influence on launch purchasing than the traditional political considerations of country of manufacture or the national entity using, regulating or ...