Orbital's Taurus awaits launch on thursday afternoon.
Here is where the Taurus made a hard yaw to the right.
Click here
to see another Taurus launch.
About the Taurus Rocket
Orbital developed the ground-launched Taurus vehicle to provide
a cost-effective, reliable means of
launching satellites weighing up to 3,000 pounds into low-Earth
orbit, or up to 800 pounds into
geosynchronous Earth orbit. Taurus incorporates advanced structural
and avionics technology proven
on Pegasus and other operational launch systems. It is also designed
for easy transportability, offering
customers rapid-response launches from a wide range of locations.
Including its debut flight in 1994,
Orbital's Taurus rocket has now carried out five space missions,
all of which have been successful. Prior
to the MTI mission, the most recent Taurus launch occurred on
December 20, 1999, when the rocket
deployed two satellites - the KOMPSAT satellite for the Republic
of Korea and the ACRIMSAT
satellite for NASA.
About Orbital
Orbital is one of the largest space technology and satellite
services companies in the world, with 1999
revenues of about $900 million. The company, which is headquartered
in Dulles, Virginia, employs over
5,200 people at its major facilities in the United States, Canada
and several overseas locations. Orbital
is the world's leading manufacturer of low-cost space systems
and products, including satellites, launch
vehicles, electronics and sensors, satellite ground systems and
software, and satellite-based navigation
and communications products. Through its ORBCOMM and ORBIMAGE
affiliates and ORBNAV
subsidiary, Orbital is also a pioneering operator of satellite-based
networks that provide data
communications, high-resolution imagery and automotive information
services to customers all around
the world.