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Founded in 1982 with the goal of making space technology more affordable, Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) still remains a successful company. Claiming to be the industry leader in the development and production of small space and rocket systems, OSC produces various satellites, rockets, and other small and affordable space technologies. The Pegasus Rocket, a joint venture, was the first privately developed space launch vehicle. In 1991, the four men who invented, developed, and produced this rocket (one of which was the founder and CEO of OSC, David W. Thompson) were awarded the National Medal of Technology. Currently OSC has conducted more than 500 space missions, and continues to provide more economically practical space technology solutions.

 Identifier

NASM.2006.0053

Creator

Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC)

Date

bulk 1988-1998

Provenance

Scott Sacknoff, Gift, 2005

Extent

0.9 Cubic feet ((1 box))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection includes information relating to OSC's various programs, services, and launch vehicles, including ORBCOMM, ORBIMAGE, SeaStar, Pegasus, VaStar, OrbNet, DataSat-X, Transfer Orbit Stage (TOS) vehicle, Taurus, and PegaStar. Also included are OSC's joint ventures, agreements, and correspondence with several companies including Hercules Aerospace Company, Gova, Inc., and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT). Information relating to smaller OSC companies (such as MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates, Incorporated and Magellan) is also included. The types of materials present in this collection include articles, brochures, correspondence, press releases, advertisements, and photographs.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Citation

Orbital Sciences Corporation Records, Accession number 2006-0053, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Artificial satellites

Rockets (Aeronautics)

Launch vehicles (Astronautics)

Pegasus Rocket

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Press releases

Advertisements

Photographs

Brochures

Articles