Ball Aerospace Incorporates Enhanced Data Communication for JPSS-1 Satellite

BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. will incorporate essential data communication enhancements for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1), currently under development for an early 2017 launch.

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JPSS is the Nation's next generation polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system, procured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). JPSS will provide continuity of observations for accurate weather and storm forecasting, vertical profiles of temperature and moisture, global measurements of atmospheric and oceanic conditions, and ozone measurements.

Ball Aerospace built Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership – the first of the JPSS-class satellites - using the IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and MIL-STD 1553 data networks to support the five-instrument payload suite. For JPSS-1, Ball is converting the NPP spacecraft design from 1394 to a SpaceWire databus protocol for use by the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments. The high-speed (>200Mbp) on-board communications provided by SpaceWire mitigates 1394 obsolescence risks at the JPSS program level and can be incorporated without risking schedule.  The SpaceWire databus is a point-to-point cable bus based on the IEEE 1355 standard and has successfully flown on other NASA and international space agency missions.

Ball Aerospace will also modify JPSS-1 to improve reliability and flexibility for operations by replacing the primary X-band Science Mission Data (SMD) downlink with a Ka-band telecom system transmitting to the ground communication system. A backup Ka-band SMD downlink system will be added, transmitting to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), which offers possible future cost avoidance and latency improvements.

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. The JPSS-1 spacecraft is a member of the BCP family of spacecraft designed for cost-effective, remote sensing applications. The JPSS-1 spacecraft bus is the twelfth spacecraft built by Ball Aerospace on the BCP core architecture. In all, this architecture has more than 50 years of successful on-orbit operations.

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) provides global weather forecasts and long-term environmental monitoring critical to public safety, and economic and national security.  JPSS will operationalize the advanced technologies currently being demonstrated on Suomi NPP, to provide enhanced Earth-observing information and environmental data.  JPSS development is progressing smoothly, with an early 2017 launch anticipated for the first satellite in the JPSS series. 

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) is a supplier of high quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2011 sales of more than $8.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://www.ball.com.

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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