BOULDER, Colo., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp. has shipped the Global Precipitation
Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) to Goddard Space Flight
Center for integration with the spacecraft.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/LA62132)
The GMI instrument will play an essential role in the worldwide
measurement of precipitation and the Earth's environmental
forecasting when it launches aboard the GPM space-borne Core
Observatory in 2014. The GPM mission is a joint effort between
NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and other
international partners.
"The outstanding team working on the GPM mission is
collaborating successfully to bring this scientifically important
project ever closer to launch," said Cary
Ludtke, Vice President and General Manager for Ball's Civil
and Operational Space business unit.
The GPM mission will improve climate, weather and hydrological
predictions by providing more accurate precipitation measurements
from space.
"Together with the radar flying on the Core satellite, the GMI
will provide a unique database to characterize precipitating
particles in different parts of the world, something that is
currently not possible. This database is key to obtaining unified
and accurate precipitation data from the entire GPM constellation
of radiometers," said Arthur Hou,
GPM Project Scientist at NASA Goddard.
A video accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7knP2Kg55c&feature=youtu.be
Ball Aerospace's role in the GPM program included the design,
development and fabrication of the GMI. Roughly eight feet tall,
the conical-scan microwave instrument is a powerhouse of
radiometry. GMI is designed to improve on-orbit calibration and
advanced space-borne radiometry by rotating at 32 revolutions per
minute, using four very stable calibration points on each
revolution to calibrate the data it has scanned. This allows for
temporal sampling of rainfall accumulations as well as more
frequent and higher quality data collection.
GMI's design is based on successful microwave sensors built
previously by Ball Aerospace including the Shuttle Radar
Topography Mission (SRTM), Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C),
GEOSAT Follow-On (GFO) and the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy
Satellite (SWAS).
Following launch, Ball Aerospace will provide post-delivery
support at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and launch
site as well as post launch support.
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. For more
information visit www.ballaerospace.com.
Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) is a supplier of high quality
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 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2011 sales of more than
$8.6 billion. For the latest Ball
news and for other company information, please visit
http://www.ball.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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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 on our
website 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; political instability and sanctions; 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 recent global recession and its effects on
liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or
unsuccessful acquisitions; regulatory action or laws including tax,
environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and
other actions affecting products filled in our containers, 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; uncertainties
surrounding the U.S. government budget and debt limit; 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.