Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. announced today that the fourth of five weather instruments that will fly aboard the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) has been successfully integrated.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100318/LA72564)

Ball Aerospace concluded integration of the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on March 5. Instruments integrated earlier include the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder; the Cloud and the Earth's Radiant Energy System; and the Ball Aerospace Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS). Integration of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder later this year will complete the spacecraft instrument suite.

"The efficient and successful integration of VIIRS onboard the NPP spacecraft required complex choreography and exemplary coordination of the spacecraft, satellite, and instrument partners, as well as the science team," said Cary Ludtke, vice president and general manager for the Ball Aerospace Civil and Operational Space business unit. "This marks another milestone in the steady progress being made in preparing for a 2011 launch."

NPP, a joint program between NASA and the Integrated Program Office, will provide continuity of data with NASA's Earth Observing System and will provide proof of concept for the nation's next generation low-Earth orbiting operational weather and climate monitoring system.

The VIIRS sensor will collect visible and infrared imagery and radiometric data about the atmosphere, clouds, earth's radiation, land/water surfaces, sea surface temperature, ocean color and other types of environmental data.

In addition to OMPS, Ball Aerospace built the NPP spacecraft, under contract to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions of important 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 is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic 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 14,000 people worldwide and reported 2009 sales of more than $7.3 billion.

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 at our Web site 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; 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 current global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of climate change, 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; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: rbrown@ball.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100318/LA72564
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.