BOULDER, Colo., June 30, 2015 — (PRNewswire) — Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has powered on the Joint Polar Satellite System ( JPSS-1) satellite for the first time. The JPSS-1 is the nation's next polar-orbiting, environmental satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017. Powering on of the satellite is a key milestone to delivery. Following powering on, the satellite performed within specifications.

"The smooth powering on of JPSS-1 provides insight into how the satellite will perform on orbit," said Cary Ludtke, vice president general manager for Ball's Civil and Operational Space business unit. "Our experience designing, building, integrating and delivering its predecessor – the Suomi NPP satellite – ensured that powering on JPSS-1 would be successful."

Ball earlier completed integration of four of five JPSS-1 flight instruments. The latest milestone means the satellite is moving toward environmental testing by early 2016 with on-time delivery scheduled for late 2016.

When launched, JPSS-1 will continue the accurate and timely collection of operational polar-orbiting weather and climate data currently provided by the NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership ( Suomi NPP) satellite built by Ball. On orbit since 2011, Suomi NPP, the first in the series of next-generation JPSS satellites, collects science-quality atmospheric, oceanographic, and land surface measurements that are critical for the nation's operational weather mission.

Under contract to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Ball Aerospace is responsible for designing and building the JPSS-1 spacecraft, building the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite ( OMPS) instrument - which measures levels of stratospheric ozone that protect the Earth's surface from damaging ultraviolet light, integrating all five instruments, and performing satellite-level testing and launch support. NASA manages the acquisition of the flight, launch services and portions of the ground segment on behalf of NOAA.

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. Ball continues to invest and innovate in affordable, high resolution imaging systems, contributing to the needs of civil, military and commercial customers.  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 2014 sales of $8.6 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter. 

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SOURCE Ball Aerospace & Technologies