BLL Ball Corp

BOULDER, Colo., April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has successfully completed space vehicle integration for the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV) program. Space vehicle integration will be followed by a series of rigorous environmental and operational tests continuing through August, 2009. Spacecraft launch is expected in February 2010. Ball Aerospace is the prime contractor for the STP-SIV program and is responsible for the overall system including the standard payload interface design, payload integration, space vehicle environmental testing, and launch and mission support. The contract for up to six vehicle orders for the Air Force Space Development & Test Wing's (SDTW) Space Development Group at Kirtland Air Force Base was awarded in 2006. "The STP-SIV architecture developed by Ball fully supports the Operationally Responsive Space strategy to ensure U.S. space superiority," said Fred Doyle, vice president and general manager for Ball Aerospace's National Defense Solutions business unit. "To meet the challenging requirements for the first STP-SIV, Ball relied on repeatable design and payload interface capabilities demonstrated for the Air Force STP-1 mission, Orbital Express, for which Ball provided the NextSat Satellite." STP-SIV satellite bus components were delivered to Ball Aerospace by AeroAstro in Dec., 2008. The small, 120 kg bus - about the size of a two-drawer file cabinet - requires versatile performance characteristics that will enable it to fly in a wide range of LEO orbits and support a variety of experimental payloads and launch vehicles on subsequent flights. The STP has launched more than 490 space technology experiments. 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. Since 1956, Ball Aerospace has been responsible for numerous technological and scientific 'firsts' and is a technology innovator in aerospace. Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging products 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 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of more than $7.5 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 http://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, including our beverage can end project; 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, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. 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 credit squeeze 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 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. DATASOURCE: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. CONTACT: Roz Brown of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., +1-303-533-6059, Web Site: http://www.ballaerospace.com/

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