BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace &
Technologies Corp. has delivered two Phased Array Antenna (PAA)
Engineering Development Units (EDUs) for the Orion Multi-Purpose
Crew Vehicle to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The PAA
serves as a primary data and voice communication link for NASA
astronauts across all mission phases from launch through flight
operations and final capsule recovery. The EDUs are now
undergoing testing at Lockheed Martin-Denver in preparation for
subsystem Critical Design Review.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111207/LA18416)
"The development and delivery of these EDUs represents a
significant milestone as NASA enters the next arena of human space
flight," said Jim Oschmann, vice
president and general manager of antenna and video technologies for
Ball Aerospace. "This milestone puts us on track to deliver
the PAA flight units for integration into the Orion flight test
vehicle that will be in production at Kennedy Space Center next
year."
The Orion PAA design leverages three dozen Ball Aerospace phased
array designs delivered for space, airborne, ground and marine
applications, as well as an additional 11 fixed beam array products
delivered for space. This product meets requirements for both the
service module and crew module applications, which minimizes design
and production costs. As part of a methodical risk burn-down
plan, Ball Aerospace previously built and tested a passive
ten-element PAA brassboard and a thirteen-element active prototype
that demonstrated array coupling, isolation and array efficiency
across scan angles. Test results validated anticipated
performance analysis and simulation. Ball Aerospace is the provider
for Orion's Vision Navigation System, flight cameras and star
trackers.
Ball Aerospace has a long history in both phased array antenna
experience and human spaceflight programs. From the pioneering
SEASAT satellite, to today's top-of-the line S-Band and Geodesic
Dome Phased Array antennas, Ball is a proven industry leader in the
application of advanced space, shipboard, aircraft and land-based
phased array antenna systems. Ball has supported NASA's human space
flight activities since Gemini, through Apollo, Skylab and the
Space Shuttle.
About the Lockheed Martin Orion Team:
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the nation's next generation
spacecraft designed to carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit on
long-duration, deep-space missions. Lockheed Martin leads the Orion
industry team which includes major subcontractors as well as a
nationwide network of minor subcontractors and small businesses. In
addition, Lockheed Martin contracts with hundreds of small and
disadvantaged business suppliers across the United States through an expansive supply
chain network. Visit www.lockheedmartin.com/orion for more
information.
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 (BLL: NYSE) 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 2010 sales of more than
$7.6 billion. For the latest Ball
news and for other company information, please visit
www.ball.com.
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 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.