Milestones

1990

Orbital becomes a publicly-traded company on the NASDAQ exchange by completing a $32.5 million initial public stock offering
The company successfully carries out eight space missions, highlighted by the initial launch of the Pegasus rocket, the world's first privately-developed space launch vehicle
Orbital files the world's first application with the Federal Communications Commission to provide commercial messaging and data communications services using a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites

Orbital is established as the preeminent supplier of small launch vehicles by winning an $80 million NASA contract for Pegasus launches and another contract from the U.S. Air Force that includes up to 40 Pegasus launches
The company raises $65 million in a follow-on public stock offering
Orbital is selected by NASA to build the SeaStar remote sensing satellite (later renamed Orbview-2) with a commitment for $45 million in image purchases over five years

Orbital's first TOS vehicle successfully boosts NASA's Mars Observer spacecraft onto its planetary trajectory
Total contract backlog exceeds $1 billion for the first time, while employment reaches 1,500 people

Teleglobe, Inc. invests $85 million in ORBCOMM to become a full partner with Orbital in the project
Orbital establishes a new subsidiary, ORBIMAGE, to pursue commercial satellite imaging businesses
Orbital acquires a Pomona, California-based division of Perkin-Elmer Corporation, adding expertise in analytical sensors and instruments for space, military and industrial applications
A new company headquarters opens in Dulles, Virginia

The company successfully conducts the inaugural launch of the Taurus rocket
The acquisition of Fairchild Space and Defense Corporation substantially increases Orbital's capabilities in satellite and electronics design and production
The APEX satellite, built for the U.S. Air Force, is successfully launched aboard a Pegasus rocket; it operates flawlessly while on orbit
Orbital acquires Magellan Corporation, the world leader in consumer-level Global Positioning System (GPS) products
Our year-end workforce totals about 2,500 people

Orbital becomes an international company with the acquisition of Vancouver-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), the world leader in the design and integration of ground stations for remote sensing satellites
The first two ORBCOMM satellites are deployed, as is the first ORBIMAGE satellite

Following a 1995 failure, the Pegasus program returns to flight with four consecutive perfect launches
Orbital is selected by NASA for a $60 million contract to build the X-34 rocketplane, a testbed for reusable launch technologies
ORBCOMM initiates the world's first commercial service for global mobile data communications provided by low-Earth orbit satellites

The acquisition of CTA, Inc.'s space systems business positions Orbital as a major global satellite supplier, and provides an entry into the fast-growing geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite market with the successful manufacture, deployment and activation of the IndoStar-1 satellite
The Pegasus program conducts its first international launch from Spain
Following launch on Pegasus, ORBIMAGE's second spacecraft, OrbView-2 (earlier called SeaStar), begins to provide the world's first commercial multispectral images

Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (BSAT) selects Orbital to build two GEO communications satellites, strengthening the company's role in this new market
ORBCOMM opens for business following the completion of its initial 28-satellite constellation and much of its worldwide ground network; the constellation later expands to 35 satellites
ORBIMAGE signs a $100 million contract with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, laying the foundation for a long-term commercial/government partnership for high-resolution imagery services

The company maintains its excellent operational record with 19 successful space missions
Orbital is selected to build a GEO satellite for Japan's NTT DoCoMo
The first of three X-34 reusable rocketplanes is delivered to NASA and in-flight testing begins
Orbital's Chandler operation is named 1999 Arizona manufacturer of the year