Ball Aerospace Instrument Setting Gold Standard for Accuracy on Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

Ball's Microwave Imager on track as best calibrated radiometer in GPM constellation

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Apr 02, 2015, 11:44 ET

BOULDER, Colo., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. under contract for NASA has performed flawlessly in its first year on orbit as the most accurately calibrated radiometer in the twelve-satellite GPM constellation.

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) built by Ball Aerospace is on track to become the best calibrated radiometer in the GPM constellation. After performing flawlessly in its first year on orbit, GMI is setting the gold standard as the most accurately calibrated radiometer in the twelve-satellite GPM constellation.

The NASA Precipitation Measurement X-Cal working group noted the radiometer's accuracy after analyzing GMI's performance during its first year of operation. GMI launched February 27, 2014 aboard the joint NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Global Precipitation Measurement mission's Core Observatory. GMI provides a standard of calibration that will substantially improve the accuracy of the precipitation data measured by other radiometers in the constellation.

"The Ball GMI enhanced subsystems design enables excellent science data performance with calibration accuracy that is unparalleled," said Jim Oschmann, vice president and general manager of Ball's Civil Space and Technology business unit. "GMI incorporates lessons learned from other radiometers which have taken Earth science measurements from low and medium Earth orbits for the last 20 years."

The Ball Aerospace GMI engineering design features a radio frequency (RF) receiver subsystem that is highly temperature stable, including a shade that protects the instrument electronics from the sun's heat. This helps prevent high temperatures from compromising the calibration accuracy of the instrument. GMI also features two standard calibration points, one at the cold end of the temperature range and one at the high end. As GMI spins at 32 revolutions per minute, it continuously self-calibrates so it can accurately measure Earth's brightness temperatures. A special coating on GMI's main reflector collects and channels RF energy so that the high frequency channel data are not compromised. GMI is the first radiometer to use noise diodes at specific frequencies to provide a 4-point calibration system that enhances accuracy.

As an essential part of an international satellite mission, the Ball Aerospace GMI is capturing next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours. The GPM Core Observatory is delivering unprecedented 3-D views of hurricanes and snowstorms and contributes to monitoring and forecasting weather events such as droughts, floods and landslides.

GMI is one example of Ball's long support of the country's weather observation and climate science. The GPM constellation includes the Ball Aerospace-built Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite, which launched in 2011, and will include the first Joint Polar Satellite System, currently in development at Ball meeting cost and schedule requirements. Both satellites enable faster, more accurate weather forecasting.

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. Ball continues to invest and innovate in affordable, high resolution imaging systems, contributing to the needs of civil, military and commercial customers. For more information, visit http://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 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2014 sales of $8.6 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

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