CloudSat, part of the multi-satellite, multi-sensor NASA experiment designed to measure the properties of clouds, has successfully concluded its final environmental test and was mated to the flight adapter interface in preparation for launch. The spacecraft underwent thermal vacuum, electromagnetic conductance, electromagnetic interference, vibration, shock and acoustic testing. Together, these tests mimic the harsh conditions of space.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is building the CloudSat spacecraft, including testing and integrating the payload, as part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) program, which fosters innovative, low-cost Earth observation missions designed to study the Earth as a global environmental system.

Ball Aerospace will also perform CloudSat launch operations and initial on-orbit commissioning. CloudSat is scheduled to be launched jointly with its Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) sister satellite later this year. Ball Aerospace built the lidar and wide field camera for CALIPSO.

The combination of data from the CloudSat radar, with coincident measurements from CALIPSO will provide a rich source of information that can be used to assess the role of clouds in both weather and climate. Both CloudSat and CALIPSO will be part of a constellation of satellites, known as the "A-Train," flying in orbital formation to provide detailed observations of the Earth's environment.

CloudSat is designed around the proven Ball Commercial Platform (BCP) 2000 spacecraft bus, which can accept any type of Earth-sensing instrumentation requiring precise pointing control, yet maintain the flexibility for rapid target selection. The BCP 2000 has successfully flown on high-profile programs including QuickBird, QuikSCAT and ICESat.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., in cooperation with NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and Colorado State University, developed the spacecraft bus which houses the instruments and sensors to be used to measure the properties of clouds that are critical for a better understanding of both weather and climate.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging products to the beverage and food industries. The company also owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., which develops sensors, spacecraft, systems and components for government and commercial markets. Ball employs more than 13,200 people worldwide and reported 2004 sales of $5.4 billion. The company is celebrating its 125th year in 2005.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release contains "forward-looking" statements and other statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," and variations of same and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 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 the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in Exhibit 99.2 in the most recent Form 10-K. These filings are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in consumer and customer demand; availability and cost of raw materials, particularly resin, steel, aluminum and energy, and the ability to pass on to customers changes in these costs; competitive packaging material availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; fruit, vegetable and fishing yields; industry productive capacity and competitive activity; lack of productivity improvement or production cost reductions; the German mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer contracts or loss of a major customer; international business risks, including foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries; and the effect of LIFO accounting on earnings. Factors that might affect aerospace segment include: funding, authorization and availability of government contracts and the nature and continuation of those contracts; and technical uncertainty associated with segment contracts. Factors that could affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures and associated integration activities; regulatory action or laws including environmental and workplace safety; governmental investigations; goodwill impairment; antitrust and other litigation; strikes; boycotts; increases in employee benefits and labor costs; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits of our financial statements or internal controls over financial reporting.

SOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.