Orbital Sciences Corp (OSC) has opened an 11,600m² (125,000ft²) state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing plant in Dulles, near Washington DC, to build and test 20 satellites within two years. The factory includes a 3,700m² high bay area, two clean rooms and the satellite command and ground control station for the Orbimage Orbview 3 and 4 high resolution satellites. Among the new satellites to be built in the plant are the Japanese NStar-C geostationary orbiting mobile communications spacecraft and up to 15 more Orbcomm data messaging and relay satellites.
Source: Flight International