This is important for both the defense sector and space sector. It's clear that Northrop Grumman is interested in building missiles (which of course require rocket systems) and it makes sense for them to want that production in-house. But it's also possible that the global security company is also interested in amping up its presence in the space sector.

Back in 2014, Orbital's Antares rocket exploded just six seconds after launch. It took them two years to get back into space, which happened last October. The company was also working on a heavy-lift rocket with a third stage, called the Next-Generation Launcher, that could lift Air Force satellites into higher orbits. It's not clear what will happen with this rocket's development under Northrop Grumman.