BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of the five instruments scheduled to fly on the nation's next polar-orbiting weather satellite, NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System -1, have been integrated to the spacecraft bus by prime contractor Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite-Nadir (OMPS-N) along with the Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments are now aboard the spacecraft.  Next up is the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) set to arrive in February. The satellite is on schedule for delivery to NOAA and launch in 2017.  JPSS-1 is critical for continuity of long-standing atmospheric, ocean and land measurements currently provided by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) mission. The Suomi NPP satellite launched in 2011 and was also built by Ball Aerospace.

"Integration of JPSS-1 continues to proceed on schedule," said Cary Ludtke, vice president and general manager of Ball's Operational Space business unit. "NOAA and NASA are reaping enormous benefit from the Suomi NPP satellite, and maintaining that continuity makes the timely completion and launch of JPSS-1 very important to our nation." 

The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite-Nadir (OMPS-N) was built by Ball Aerospace. OMPS-N data is used at NOAA for numerical weather prediction modeling and a variety of environmental observations, like volcanic ash monitoring to aid in aircraft safety warnings. CERES, built by Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems division for NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, measures the reflected sunlight and thermal radiation emitted by the Earth, two components of the Earth's Radiation Budget (ERB). Ball also anticipates arrival of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrlS) in the first quarter of 2015 with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) to follow.

NOAA is responsible for the funding and requirements for JPSS and teams with NASA, which procures the flight and portions of the ground segment. NOAA is also responsible for operations of the satellites and instruments after launch. Under contract to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Ball Aerospace is responsible for designing and building the JPSS-1 satellite bus, the OMPS instrument, integrating all instruments, and performing satellite-level testing and 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 http://www.ballaerospace.com/.

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2013 sales of $8.5 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions 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 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation, power and supply chain influence; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt.

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SOURCE Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.