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STS-61C crew film
Space shuttle Columbia began mission STS-61C with a beautiful sunrise launch in January 1986 after several delays. Led by commander Hoot Gibson, the astronauts deployed a commercial communications satellite and tended to numerous experiments with the Materials Science Laboratory, Hitchhiker platform and Getaway Special Canisters in the payload bay. The crew included Congressman Bill Nelson of Florida, the first U.S. Representative to fly in space. Watch this post-flight film narrated by the astronauts.

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Delta 4 launches GOES
The Boeing Delta 4 rocket launches from pad 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the GOES-N spacecraft, beginning a new era in weather observing for the Americas.

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Discovery goes to pad
As night fell over Kennedy Space Center on May 19, space shuttle Discovery reached launch pad 39B to complete the slow journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Discovery will be traveling much faster in a few weeks when it blasts off to the International Space Station.

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Orbital to build 6 payloads for ORBCOMM
ORBITAL NEWS RELEASE
Posted: June 1, 2006

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that ORBCOMM, Inc., has awarded the company a $17 million contract to supply six data communications payloads. The contract also includes options for two additional payload sets, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $21.5 million. Orbital is scheduled to complete the delivery of the six initial payloads by mid-2007. The work will be carried out at Orbital's satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia.

In the 1990's, Orbital designed, developed, built and deployed ORBCOMM's global network of satellites, ground systems and data messaging distribution system based on the company's proprietary smaller-sized space systems. The in-orbit satellites, while lasting well beyond their original five- to seven-year design life are due for a generational upgrade, for which the new communications payloads are designed.

Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary-orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.