Ball Aerospace Completes Environmental Test Phase for WISE Mission
July 13 2009 - 8:03AM
PR Newswire (US)
BOULDER, Colo., July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp. has completed environmental testing for
NASA's Widefield Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and has begun
post-environmental performance testing. WISE is working to a date
of November 1, 2009 for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090713/LA45086) WISE
environmental testing included thermal vacuum, electromagnetic
compatibility, electromagnetic interference, vibration, shock and
acoustic testing to confirm the design integrity of the spacecraft.
Earlier this year Ball Aerospace integrated the WISE infrared
cryogenic science instrument built by Space Dynamics Laboratory.
The WISE RS-300 spacecraft derives from the Ball Aerospace NextSat
spacecraft built for the successful Orbital Express mission
launched on March 9, 2007. The flight system has an estimated mass
of 560 Kg (about 1,175 pounds) and will fly at an altitude of about
313 miles. The spacecraft will be three-axis stabilized, with
body-fixed solar arrays and use a high-gain antenna to transmit to
ground through the TDRSS geostationary system. In addition to
building the spacecraft, Ball Aerospace will perform testing
requirements and flight system integration. "Successful conclusion
of the environmental test phase indicates that WISE is on track to
perform much like Ball's NextSat," said Cary Ludtke, vice president
and general manager for Ball's civil and operational space unit.
"This risk reduction milestone brings us one step closer to an
infrared map of the sky like we've never seen before." WISE will
survey the entire sky with sensitivity hundreds of times better
than previous infrared missions. It is designed to identify stars
closest to the sun, enable a wide variety of studies in star
formation and galactic structures, and assist the James Webb Space
Telescope program identify which objects to observe following its
expected 2014 launch. Ball is the principal subcontractor for James
Webb, providing the advanced optical technology and lightweight
mirror system. WISE is one of several cryogenically cooled infrared
systems supported by Ball Aerospace. Other programs have included
the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), the Cosmic Background
Explorer (COBE), the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Near Infrared
Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) for the Hubble Space
Telescope. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages
WISE for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. 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. Ball Corporation
(NYSE:BLL) 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 2008 sales of
approximately $7.6 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.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090713/LA45086
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ 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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