BOULDER, Colo., Dec.30, 2015 – Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. kicks off 2016 celebrating 60 years in the aerospace industry at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) annual meeting.

The 227th meeting of the AAS will draw more than 2,300 astronomers, planetary scientists, educators and journalists to the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Kissimmee, Fla. Jan. 4-8.

Ball began its “jars to the stars” quest by forming the Ball Brothers Research Corporation in 1956. For the past six decades, Ball Aerospace has served as a technology innovator for defense and civilian government agencies and commercial customers.

• Tuesday, Jan. 5:Makenzie Lystrup, Ph.D., Ball Aerospace Director, Civil Space Business Development, will join a panel titled, “The Next Leap in UV/Optical/NIR Space Astronomy,” Orange Blossom Ballroom, 10:00 a.m.

• Tuesday, Jan. 5: Ball will sponsor the NASA K2 Mission special session, 7:30 p.m.Ball is the mission prime contractor for K2, NASA’s repurposed planet-hunting Kepler mission. The K2 mission is well into its second year of operations and is routinely producing exciting and significant science data from its observations.

  Wednesday, Jan. 6: Ball will participate in the Student Education & Public Outreach Program, as students perform simulations of the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope spectrograph instruments and identify gases displayed in gas tubes. Beginning at 12:15 p.m., STEM students will learn why astronomers use spectrographs for studying celestial objects. To learn more about Ball Aerospace during the AAS meeting, please visit us at booth #300.

  If you are interested in interviewing Ball astronomers or program experts during the show, contact Media Relations Manager Roz Brown at 720-581-3135.

  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 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.

  Forward-Looking Statements

  This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions 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 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost  reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation, power and supply chain influence; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures, including, with respect to the proposed Rexam PLC acquisition, the effect of the announcement of the acquisition on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; the occurrence of any event or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of our definitive agreement with Rexam PLC in respect of the acquisition; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us related to the definitive agreement with Rexam PLC; and the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the acquisition of Rexam PLC, including the receipt of all regulatory approvals.