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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WIQ89pQpWYHqIS+dSJo8Pt17wBnLDYWdIQl1c2U8ZJzkYEapVpJ6/+/YY8rGZk9/
 XZ49TQUmJ3QhccQbl3dBhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-001066.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-001066.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105192047
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-001066
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
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:			FISK LENNARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001045858

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14279
		FILM NUMBER:		04507216

	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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000820736</issuerCik><issuerName>ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>orb</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001045858</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FISK LENNARD A</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>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securit
yTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.1800</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000.0000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postT
ransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24823.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Lennard A. Fisk by Susan Herlick, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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