Ball Aerospace Expands Testing Capability for Large-Aperture Optics
March 14 2005 - 11:48AM
PR Newswire (US)
Ball Aerospace Expands Testing Capability for Large-Aperture Optics
BOULDER, Colo., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp. announced today that its new Horizontal
Collimator Assembly (HCA), which tests large telescope systems in a
space-like environment, is now operational. The HCA facilitates the
testing of optical systems with apertures up to 30 inches (0.76
meter) in diameter. Since the entire test facility and instrument
are vibration isolated inside a thermal/vacuum chamber, risks
associated with atmospheric turbulence and air-layering effects are
eliminated. By early 2006, the HCA will be joined by a Vertical
Collimator Assembly (VCA), which will allow system-level testing
with a 1.5 meter diameter collimator system in a vacuum. Together,
both collimators will be known as the Universal Collimator Assembly
(UCA). The UCA will also be capable of testing cryogenic
telescopes. The high-resolution WorldView camera, under development
for DigitalGlobe on behalf of the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency (NGA) and satellite imagery customers worldwide, will be the
first optical instrument tested in using HCA. According to Dave
Taylor, president and CEO of Ball Aerospace, "The HCA is our next
step in the company's long-term commitment to large-aperture
optical systems. The system will give us a competitive advantage in
the marketplace." Ball Aerospace has a long-standing reputation for
delivering sophisticated optical instruments for NASA and military
applications. The company also has a growing business base for
developing excellent large-aperture systems such as QuickBird,
HiRISE, the Spitzer Space Telescope, Kepler and the James Webb
Space Telescope. Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) 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 http://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.
DATASOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. CONTACT: David
Beachley of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.,
+1-303-533-5089,
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