Ball Aerospace Completes Primary Structure for JPSS-1

BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has achieved a pivotal milestone for assuring continuity of the nation's future weather and storm forecasting by completing the primary bus structure of the first satellite in the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1). JPSS-1 is the follow-on in a series of next generation satellites and is scheduled for launch in early 2017.

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Procured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), JPSS-1 will continue the observations now provided by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, also built by Ball and launched in 2011.  The continuity these satellites provide on orbit is critical for ensuring the nation's ability to accurately predict severe weather.

"We remain ahead of schedule in meeting our milestones," said Cary Ludtke, vice president and general manager for Ball's Operational Space business unit. "JPSS-1 will operationalize the advanced technologies currently being demonstrated on Suomi NPP, and with the satellite's core structure complete, we can now push on to assembly, integration and test as we prepare for instrument integration in November 2014."

JPSS will fly a suite of advanced technology remote-sensing instruments that includes:

• Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
• Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)
• Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)
• Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)
• Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES)

Ball is under contract to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to design and build the JPSS-1 satellite bus, the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) instrument, integrate all instruments, and perform satellite-level testing and launch support.

JPSS-1 will provide essential data for civil and military weather-forecasting, storm tracking, and climate-monitoring. The data from JPSS-1 will be used by the National Weather Service in models for forecasts three to seven days ahead of a severe weather event. This weather forecasting will allow scientists and forecasters to monitor and predict weather patterns with greater speed and accuracy, while also giving emergency managers and the public time to prepare.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions for national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. For more information, visit www.ballaerospace.com.

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 15,000 people worldwide and reported 2012 sales of more than $8.7 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates, " "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the recent global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget and debt limit; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

SOURCE Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

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