Orbital Wins $3 Million Transportation Management Contract in Portland, Oregon; Automated Stop Annunciation System to Improve Passenger Service

DULLES, Va.--Oct. 5, 2004--Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that its Transportation Management Systems division has been selected by the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) to provide an onboard Automated Stop Annunciation (ASA) system for its fleet of transit buses. Orbital will equip TriMet's entire fleet of 639 fixed route buses with its ASA system, beginning with an initial deployment of 282 vehicles that will be completed by July 2006. The contract is valued at approximately $3 million.

Orbital's ASA generates and displays next bus stop and other related messages to TriMet's passengers. The messages include audio location-based announcements, such as next stop, customer service and transfers, as well as visual next stop messages, time-based audio and textual customer service announcements. The system also provides audio bus arrival messages on the exterior of the vehicle. As a further enhancement to TriMet's operations, Orbital's system also utilizes wireless LAN technology to automatically transfer ASA message information and vehicle health data between the TriMet control center and the vehicle.

Mr. Clyde Shillieto, Project Manager for Orbital TMS said, "The Automated Stop Announcement system will be integrated with TriMet's existing Automatic Vehicle Location and onboard data network system to activate the stop announcements, thereby leveraging the technology investment TriMet has made over the years." Mr. Shillieto continued, adding, "Orbital is excited to continue its long-term relationship with TriMet and is dedicated to developing solutions that will continue to meet the needs of Portland's transit passengers."

Orbital TMS is the country's leading supplier of satellite-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems for the expanding Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market. Orbital's AVL systems are used by 55 transit and state agency customers in the U.S. and internationally, with units installed, or scheduled to be installed, on approximately 26,000 vehicles. More information about Orbital TMS can be found at http://www.tms-online.com

Orbital develops and manufactures small space and rocket systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geosynchronous and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense 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 offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.

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