Orbital Sciences Corp. announced Sept. 16 it received a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide the space agency with Pegasus and Taurus launch services throughout the next seven years.

The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for launch services, means NASA has not yet ordered launch vehicles yet, but the process for procuring a rocket for small- class missions is simplified. Orbital estimates that NASA will need six or seven launch vehicles to support upcoming small-class missions during the life of this contract.

Orbital estimates it could receive as much as $200 million in revenue in the lifetime of the contract based on NASA’s planned missions in that timeframe and Orbital’s history of supplying launch services to the agency, Orbital spokesman Barry Beneski said.