BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp. is providing the phased array antennas and
flight test cameras to prime contractor Lockheed Martin for Orion's
Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1), which is an unmanned test flight
scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral,
Florida on December 4.
"We are eagerly awaiting the launch of the first mission of
Orion as NASA enters its next era of human space flight," said
Jim Oschmann, vice president and
general manager of civil space and technology. "Ball Aerospace is
best known for its support of major unmanned space exploration, but
has also been a long-time supplier of technology products to the
human spaceflight program including the Gemini and Apollo missions,
Skylab, the Space Shuttle and now the next generation, Orion
spacecraft."
Ball delivered four phased array antennas for the EFT-1. Each of
the phased array antennas is a highly sophisticated
subassembly containing over 5,000 individual parts encased in a
briefcase-sized housing. The antennas carry mission-critical voice
and data communications and will perform on the pad, during ascent,
on orbit, and through de-orbit and splashdown. The Orion
phased array antenna design leverages dozens of Ball phased array
designs delivered for space, airborne, ground and marine
applications.
Ball's three flight test cameras were the first avionics
hardware delivered for Orion EFT-1. They are based on the design of
the docking camera that flew aboard the STS-134 Sensor Test for
Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation (STORRM) mission in 2011.
For the December Orion flight they will be used for situational
awareness to gather data for the duration of the mission, from
lift-off through splash-down.
Orion is NASA's first interplanetary spacecraft designed to
carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit on long-duration, deep
space missions and eventually to Mars. The December test flight
will mimic the extreme re-entry forces and harsh environment the
crewed versions of Orion will need to withstand carrying astronauts
on deep-space missions.
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 and
international 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) 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.