- Orbital Sciences (ORB +0.6%) says it will likely stop using the type of engines employed in its unmanned Antares commercial supply rockets, following the explosion of one such rocket bound for the International Space Station last week.
- The company says its investigation of the crash is continuing, but preliminary results point to a failure in one of its two main engines. An already-planned upgrade to the Antares propulsion system will be introduced in early 2016.
- Orbital says it still plans to fulfill its contract with NASA to deliver all remaining cargo to the ISS by the end of 2016 (with no additional cost to NASA) and does not expect costs related to the accident to be material in 2015.