Spacecraft and test missile manufacturer Orbital Sciences (US: ORB) has finally docked its Cygnus unmanned cargo capsule with the International Space Station (ISS). With its Antares rocket already proven, Nasa now knows everything works and Orbital can get cracking on a highly lucrative contract with the space agency worth $1.9bn (£1.2bn) over the next five years. Once that begins, the share price should rocket again.
Under the contract, Orbital will make eight flights to the space station, carrying tonnes of food, fuel, clothing and equipment. Analysts at FBR Capital think that is worth up to 70c of EPS annually and, according to consensus estimates, should generate growth in underlying earnings of 9 per cent next year and 20 per cent the year after.
