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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 U6J63JgOj2/AYogX5bt9Fw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-000377.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-000377.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105130415
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-000377
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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:			THOMPSON JAMES R JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001045863

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14279
		FILM NUMBER:		04503054

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21700 ATLANTIC BLVD
		STREET 2:		C/O ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP
		CITY:			DULLES
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7034065000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21700 ATLANTIC BLVD
		STREET 2:		ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP
		CITY:			DULLES
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20166
</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>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000820736</issuerCik><issuerName>ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>orb</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001045863</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>THOMPSON JAMES R JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>21839 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>DULLES</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>20166</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VC, President and COO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportin
gOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1533.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.0200</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>253577.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F2" /><footnoteId id="F3" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDeriv
ativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Common stock grant pursuant to Issuer's 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "Plan").</footnote><footnote id="F2">(I) - Mr. Thompson disclaims beneficial ownership of an additional 1,385 indirect shares of Common Stock owned by his spouse.</footnote><footnote id="F3">(I) - Mr. Thompson disclaims beneficial ownership of an additional 16,537 indirect shares of Common Stock owned by his trust.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>James R. Thompson by Susan Herlick, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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