BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp. has shipped the STPSat-2 satellite built
for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Space
Development and Test Wing (SDTW) to Alaska's Kodiak Launch Complex for scheduled
liftoff aboard a Minotaur 4 rocket for a fall 2010 launch.
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(Photo:
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STPSat-2 is the first spacecraft for the Department of Defense
(DoD) Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV)
program managed by Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, N.M. The STP-SIV architecture
developed for STPSat-2 supports the Operationally Responsive Space
strategy to ensure U.S. space superiority.
The STPSat-2 spacecraft provides a standard interface compatible
for multiple launch vehicles that support a variety of experimental
and risk reduction payloads at different low-Earth orbits. This was
demonstrated on STPSat-2 when a third payload was manifested
following the Critical Design Review and then successfully
integrated without spacecraft design modification. Using
flight-proven hardware for the spacecraft (and developmental
hardware only on the experimental payloads), each bus can
accommodate up to four independent payloads, each one having its
own separate power and data interface.
"STPSat-2 is putting responsive space into practice for the U.S.
Air Force," said David L. Taylor,
president and CEO of Ball Aerospace. "This small but robust
satellite provides a flexible solution for a variety of customer
mission needs, from missile warning, to earth-remote sensing, to
situational awareness."
Production is also continuing at Ball on the second STP-SIV,
STPSat-3, an identical spacecraft that will host four DoD
experimental payloads. The STPSat-3 spacecraft will be completed in
November, with payloads integrated in the first quarter of
2011.
In addition to STPSat-2, the Minotaur 4 rocket will launch two
FASTRAC spacecraft from the University of
Texas, the Air Force Academy's
FalconSat 5 satellite, NASA's O/OREOS CubeSat mission, and NASA's
FASTSAT (Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite), which
includes the Threat Detection System built by Ball Aerospace for
the Air Force Research Lab/Space-Based Advanced Sensing &
Protection Branch for detecting tracking, and characterizing space
objects and the space environment.
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 (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
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.
SOURCE Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
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