ORBITAL ATK

Go behind the scenes of the launch prep for Orbital ATK's Antares and Cygnus OA-9 mission to the International Space Station. Cygnus is scheduled to launch aboard an Antares rocket for the seventh time from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Orbital ATK’s vision for the next step toward human space missions to Mars employs our flight-proven Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft as a human habitat in cislunar space, the region between the Moon and Earth. In the early 2020s we would launch the initial habitat on NASA’s SLS rocket. Featuring a modular design, the habitat would serve both as a destination for crewed missions and as an unmanned testbed to prove-out the technologies needed for long-duration human space missions. The habitat is also envisioned as a base for lunar missions by international partners or commercial ventures. With additional habitation and propulsion modules, the habitat could be outfitted for a Mars pathfinder mission.

For each CRS mission, it is a tradition at Orbital ATK to name the Cygnus cargo spacecraft for an individual who has furthered our nation’s human spaceflight programs. For the OA-9 mission, Orbital ATK is proud to announce that the OA-9 spacecraft will be named after J.R. Thompson, a distinguished leader in the aerospace industry and a member of our Orbital ATK family. Throughout his life, J.R. held prominent positions at NASA, the Marshall Space Flight Center, and Orbital Sciences. We are honored to celebrate his life with the upcoming launch of the S.S. J.R. Thompson. Learn more on the OA-9 mission page: bit.ly/2FbdUrz

Orbital ATK has announced the name of the company's new large-class rocket: OmegA. This all-American rocket, designed for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, will have a capacity of up to 10,100 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and up to 7,800 kg to Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO). Aerojet Rockeydyne’s RL10C engine will be the vehicle’s upper stage propulsion system. Learn more: bit.ly/OmegaRocket

During this year’s SATELLITE 2018 Conference and Exhibition, Orbital ATK, a leader in the emerging space logistics market, debuted the next generation of in-orbit satellite serving technology with the introduction of Mission Extension Pods (MEPs)™ and the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV)™. These two products join Orbital ATK's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV)™, creating a suite of in-orbit satellite servicing products focused on extending the life of existing satellites. Learn more: bit.ly/2HsY6SR

Since 1982, Orbital ATK has been paving the way with innovations in the commercial space industry. From Pegasus, the world’s first commercially-developed rocket, to new spacecraft buses for communications, scientific and national security missions, the company is a pioneer of modern space technology. Today, Orbital ATK and its SpaceLogistics subsidiary introduces Mission Extension Pods (MEPs), the newest addition to the company’s family of robotic satellite servicing platforms. MEP joins the company’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV), the industry’s first in-orbit satellite servicing platform, and together they promise to revolutionize the satellite industry by extending the lives of in-orbit spacecraft. Learn more here: bit.ly/2HsY6SR

Get an inside look at Orbital ATK’s Next Generation Launch System with engineer Katie Qian. We are currently developing the NGL family of rockets for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Learn more about NGL here: bit.ly/2f8mkWo.

2017 was a remarkable year of 100-percent mission success for Orbital ATK's Flight Systems Group. The group successfully launched 12 Orbital ATK rockets, supported 11 additional launches with propulsion and composite structures, and manufactured 92,000 composite parts. This video showcases the group's major milestones last year.

Get a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes when preparing Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket for flight. Components are shipped from around the world and integrated at the Horizontal Integration Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

Orbital ATK successfully launched its Minotaur C rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on October 31 at 2:37 p.m. PDT. The space launch vehicle deployed six SkySat and four Dove spacecraft, which will capture medium and high resolution multispectral imagery of Earth at unprecedented scale and frequency for the commercial market.

Soldier safety is at the core of Orbital ATK’s mission. As part of this mission, we have advanced our rocket motor technology to meet current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) insensitive munitions (IM) requirements. Insensitive munitions are munitions that are chemically stable enough to withstand fire, mechanical shocks and shrapnel and still explode to destroy their targets as intended.

Under a contract from Thales Alenia Space, Orbital ATK is assembling and testing the 81 Iridium NEXT satellites at its Gilbert, Arizona satellite manufacturing facility. Orbital ATK engineers highlight the challenges and rewards of working on this exciting program.

On August 26, 2017 Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV successfully launched the ORS-5 satellite for the United States Air Force from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This video features a full replay of the broadcast and launch. Get more information on the mission here: bit.ly/2x7o20P

What is it like to be an intern at Orbital ATK? Hear from some of our 2017 interns about their experience and their favorite part of the job. We are now accepting applications for our 2018 internships. Visit jobs.obitalatk.com to learn more.

On June 15, Orbital ATK, along with NASA and Lockheed Martin, successfully completed the first qualification test for the Orion spacecraft's launch abort motor. The motor is critical to crew safety, with the ability to pull the crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during ascent.

Our Orbital ATK astronauts have a message for you on National Astronaut Day. Read more here: bit.ly/2p2oGx5

Engineering, science and teamwork took center stage at this year's Bring Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Hundreds of children visited our campuses across the country and participated in various activities that included launching bottle rockets, touring facilities and shadowing their parents. See highlights of the activities from our Dulles, Virginia campus.

On April 27, 2017, Orbital ATK successfully completed a test fire of the company’s attitude control motor (ACM) for NASA’s Orion crew exploration vehicle. The ACM will steer the capsule’s launch abort system and crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency. The capsule, developed by Lockheed Martin, is expected to launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System for a test flight in 2018. Learn more about the ACM here: bit.ly/2q75Ce3

Take a look at the mission preview for our OA-7 mission, set to launch in March 2017 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The S.S. John Glenn Cygnus spacecraft will deliver essential supplies, equipment and science experiments to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

2016 was an exciting year for Orbital ATK’s Flight Systems Group with numerous launches, tests, and production milestones. Highlights include launches of Antares and Pegasus, significant rate increases for composite parts, and the final qualification test of the solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System.

Lots of great things to see in downtown Houston today, January 29, 2017, through Super Bowl Sunday at Discovery Green! The Future Flight exhibit has lots to offer. See what former astronaut Brian Duffy has to say about the Wow Factor drop tower ride! We're proud to be one of the sponsors for #FutureFlight.

See how our in-orbit mission extension vehicle (MEV), the industry's first, will work with this robotic simulation at our Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking Laboratory in Dulles, Virginia.

In less than a year after announcing its first customer contract, Orbital ATK has made significant progress in developing its new satellite life extension service. The innovative technology, a first in the industry, gives satellite operators the capability to extend the life of a healthy satellite. Orbital ATK remains on track to introduce its in-orbit satellite servicing system with the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1). The vehicle is currently under production at the company’s satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia.

Our OA-5 mission successfully launched aboard our Antares rocket from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, on October 17, 2016. Out Cygnus spacecraft carried approximately 2,400 kg (5,290 lbs.) of supplies and science experiments for the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was successfully completed on November 27, 2016. Get more information on the mission here: ow.ly/BFEB307bUnZ

Take a look at the mission preview for our OA-5 mission, scheduled for launch on Sunday, October 16 at 8:03 p.m. EDT.

On June 28, 2016, Orbital ATK successfully completed a the QM-2 static fire test of its booster for NASA's Space Launch System. See highlights from the preparation and test of the booster that is helping to make a human mission to Mars possible.

Take a look at highlights from our OA-6 mission, which concluded on June 22, 2016, three months after its launch aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket. The S.S. Rick Husband Cygnus spacecraft, named for the late space shuttle commander, remained attached to the International Space Station for 81 days while the crew removed 7,900 pounds of cargo then filled it with materials for disposal. After it unberthed from the space station on June 14, the spacecraft hosted two scientific experiments and deployed 4 CubeSats from its NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer. Congratulations on another successful mission, Cygnus!

See what spectators thought about the second and final ground qualification test (QM-2) of NASA's Space Launch System booster moments after the test. Hear from a current astronaut, a former Survivor contestant, folks that worked on components of the booster and social media gurus.

On June 28, we successfully completed the second and final qualification ground test of the booster for NASA's Space Launch System. See the full two-minute test.

On June 28, NASA and Orbital ATK will conduct the second qualification ground test of the five-segment rocket motor that will be used for initial thrust for America’s rocket - NASA's Space Launch System. The SLS is a heavy-lift rocket designed to enable exciting new deep space exploration missions. Watch this trailer. Feel the power.

On May 31, 2016 Orbital ATK successfully conducted a hot fire test of the first stage of its Antares medium class rocket at the MARS Pad 0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility. (NASA video)

The Earth shook (and so did the cameras)! Orbital ATK successfully conducted a hot fire test of the first stage its Antares medium-class rocket at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on May 31, 2016. (NASA video)

Orbital ATK's satellite life extension services employs our Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) which autonomously rendezvous and docks with the customer satellite to provide additional propulsion and attitude control.

An overview of Orbital ATK's OA-6 mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station for NASA.

Behind Orbital ATK’s success stands an incredible team of professionals who are committed to delivering innovative, reliable and affordable products to our customers. Our products support crews aboard the International Space Station, scientists, warfighters and the defense of our nation and allies. We are the partner you can count on.

Orbital ATK celebrates its first year as a company after the merger between Orbital Sciences Corporation and Alliant Techsystems, Inc. in February 2015. The merger brought into existence a new $4.5 billion space, defense and aviation systems manufacturer that employs approximately 12,000 people in 18 states across the United States. Visit OrbitalATK.com to learn more.

On Thursday, December 10 at 4:42 a.m. EST, the crew of the International Space Station opened the hatch to Orbital ATK's ‪‎Cygnus‬ spacecraft, the S.S. Deke Slayton II, named in honor of the astronaut, flight crew ops director, and commercial space pioneer. Slayton was an inspiration to employees at Orbital ATK, and it was only fitting that his name grace this spacecraft. The Deke Slayton II carried more than 7,700 lbs. of food, science, and even Christmas presents from NASA's Kennedy Space Center up to the Station. Orbital ATK will be returning to the Station again in March with another #Cygnus spacecraft as part of NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Commercial Resupply Services contract. Learn more: http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/OA4-Mission-Page/default.aspx

On-board view of the Cygnus cargo resupply spacecraft unfurling one of its two UltraFlex solar arrays. The video is shown at three frames per second. The actual deployment took a little more than 20 minutes. Cygnus was launched into orbit by an Atlas V rocket on Sunday, December 6, 2015 carrying over 3,500 kg (7,700 lbs) of cargo bound for the International Space Station. Under the NASA CRS-1 contract Orbital ATK will deliver up to 28,700 kg., of cargo to the space station. The UltraFlex arrays were designed and built at Orbital ATK's Goleta, CA facility. The Cygnus UltraFlex arrays are the largest flown on a space mission to date.

On December 6, Orbital ATK's enhanced Cygnus spacecraft, the S.S. Deke Slayton II, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center en route to resupply the International Space Station. For more information about the launch, visit orbitalatk.com (NASA Footage)

Frank DeMauro Vice President of Orbital ATK's Human Space Systems Programs provides an overview of the OA-4 mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

Our customer, DIRECTV, and our key program personnel, talk about the SKYM-1 satellite project from beginning to end.

On March 11, 2015 NASA and Orbital ATK conducted the first qualification ground test of the five-segment rocket motor that will be used for initial thrust for NASA's heavy-lift Space Launch System, which will enable new missions of exploration across the solar system. This video gives a quick look at the events of the day.

April 5, 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the first flight of Orbital ATK's Pegasus air-launched rocket. The world’s first all-new privately-developed space launch vehicle, Pegasus was developed in the late 1980’s in a joint venture between Orbital Sciences Corporation and Hercules Aerospace Company, a predecessor to ATK Inc., and was first launched on April 5, 1990. This video celebrates 25 years of the Pegasus Program.

Orbital ATK in Elkton, Maryland, completed a successful high-pressure valve test for the Attitude Control Motor (ACM), part of the Orion crew capsule Launch Abort System (LAS).

Are you ready? On Mar. 11, NASA and Orbital ATK will conduct the first qualification ground test of the five-segment rocket motor that will be used for initial thrust for NASA's heavy-lift Space Launch System, which will enable new missions of exploration across the solar system. This trailer gives a great overview of how we are testing the biggest solid rocket motor ever.

Welcome to the new Orbital ATK. This video provides a glimpse into the products and services that our company offers.