8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 26, 2012

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	1-14279	06-1209561
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

21839 Atlantic Boulevard, Dulles, Virginia 20166

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (703) 406-5000

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)  

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)  

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))  

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Oficers.

Effective January 26, 2012, the Board of Directors of Orbital Sciences Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Kevin P. Chilton, General (United States Air Force, retired), to serve as a director of the Company, filling a newly-created vacancy in the class of directors whose term expires at the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.  The appointment of General Chilton increases the size of the Board from thirteen to fourteen. The Board also appointed General Chilton to serve on its Markets and Technology Committee and Human Resources and Compensation Committee.  There are no arrangements or understandings between General Chilton and any other persons pursuant to which General Chilton was selected as a director of the Company.

In consideration of General Chilton’s service on the Board and consistent with the Board’s compensation policies for non-employee directors, the Board approved a grant to General Chilton of restricted stock units valued at $45,000 that will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date.  The grant was made pursuant to the Company’s 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.  General Chilton also will receive customary annual cash fees paid to non-employee directors of the Company.

A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of General Chilton as director is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and the information set forth therein is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 30, 2012.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION (Registrant)
Date: February 1, 2012	By: /s/ Susan Herlick Susan Herlick Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 30, 2012.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

For Immediate Release	For More Information Contact:
	Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528
	Public and Investor Relations
	beneski.barron@orbital.com

ORBITAL NAMES GENERAL KEVIN CHILTON TO COMPANY’S

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

-- Former Commander of U.S.  Strategic Command and NASA Astronaut to Provide

Strategic Insight Into National Security and Civilian Space Markets --

(Dulles, VA 30 January 2012) – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that General Kevin P. Chilton (U.S. Air Force - retired) has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors.

“We are very pleased to welcome General Chilton to Orbital’s Board of Directors.  His broad experience and deep knowledge of the company’s fastest growing markets will be of tremendous benefit to the company,” said Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “As Orbital’s business continues to expand in U.S. national security space systems and in NASA’s human spaceflight activities, we expect that General Chilton’s personal background in both markets will provide Orbital with a unique perspective from one of the industry’s most respected leaders.”

General Chilton served as Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, from 2007 through 2011.  His responsibilities entailed overseeing plans and operations for all U.S. forces conducting strategic deterrence as well as the space and cyberspace operations of the Department of Defense.From 2006 to 2007, General Chilton served as Commander of Air Force Space Command, where he was responsible for all Air Force space operations.  Prior roles with the Air Force included Commander of the 8th Air Force from 2005 to 2006 and a variety of assignments at the Pentagon from 2000 to 2005. Earlier in his Air Force career, he flew more than 4,000 hours in F-4 and F-15 aircraft after graduating from the Air Force pilot training and test pilot schools.

General Chilton also served as a NASA astronaut from 1987 to 1996, including on three flights as Pilot and Commander of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Endeavour orbiters and logging more than 700 hours in space.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976 and earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1977.  In addition, General Chilton’s numerous awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.  He is also a recipient of NASA’s “Top Fox” flight safety award and was recently named as a 2012 inductee into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

About Orbital

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories.

More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com

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Orbital Sciences Corporation • 21839 Atlantic Blvd., Dulles, VA 20166 • 703-406-5000