Orbital in Final Preparations for Launch of Thor 5 Communications Satellite

Spacecraft for Telenor of Norway will be the First Orbital-Built GEO Communications Satellite Launched Aboard an ILS Proton Rocket

(Dulles, VA., February 8, 2008) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), the world leader in smaller-sized commercial geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellites, is in final preparations for the launch of the THOR 5 satellite. Orbital designed, built and tested the THOR 5 spacecraft at its Dulles, Virginia satellite manufacturing facility for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting of Norway. The launch of the THOR 5 satellite from the Baikonur Cosomodrome in Kazakhstan is currently scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 10 at 6:33 a.m. (EST). The spacecraft will be launched directly into geosynchronous orbit aboard a Proton launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

"Our team is very excited to be in the final phase of preparing the THOR 5 spacecraft for its launch and deployment," said Senior Vice President Christopher Richmond, head of Orbital's GEO communications satellite programs. "This mission consists of two 'firsts' for Orbital. THOR 5 is the first satellite we have built for Telenor and we are looking forward to supporting them for many years to come. This mission will also be the first time one of our GEO communications satellites has been directly injected into geosynchronous orbit using an ILS Proton rocket."

Source : Orbital Sciences Corp.

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