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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Oo2/E9dtnw3+gzKV/oM/f2+2vvEHghV+tcct1cEKFTmXgC9K9wp5YqbeX4qOKIGk
 s+MN/fCYVU5AZya8yO97sA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-019905.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-019905.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903140401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-019905
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820736
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				061209561
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21839 ATLANTIC BLVD
		CITY:			DULLES
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703406 5524

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21700 ATLANTIC BLVD
		STREET 2:		21700 ATLANTIC BLVD
		CITY:			DULLES
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20166

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP II
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRABE RONALD J/VA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229430
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEARCH, DETECTION, NAVIGATION, GUIDANCE, AERONAUTICAL SYS [3812]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14279
		FILM NUMBER:		03878485

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21839 ATLANTIC BLVD
		CITY:			DULLES
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703406 5524
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000820736</issuerCik><issuerName>ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>orb</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001229430</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GRABE RONALD J/VA</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>21839 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>DULLES</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>20166</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP and GM</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDe
rivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>75326</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityT
itle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.85</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65826</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></de
emedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80826</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactio
nCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.95</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65826</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFor
mType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-24</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTran
saction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-24</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></u
nderlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vested in three equal installments on April 24, 2001, February 6, 2002 and February 6, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Kathleen Guerere</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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