BROOMFIELD, Colo., Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace
supported completion of critical design review (CDR) for NASA's
Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of
Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) mission. Ball will now
move forward with building the telescope and spacecraft.
In addition to designing and building the spacecraft and
telescope, Ball Aerospace is responsible for conducting system
integration and test, supporting integration of the spacecraft onto
a launch vehicle and commissioning of the spacecraft after launch,
which is currently scheduled for no earlier than June 2024 and no later than April 2025.
"After completing separate CDRs for the spacecraft last June and
for the telescope in November, this overall mission CDR is the
final step before full assembly begins," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general
manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace. "We are excited to move
forward on developing the tools that will help NASA and the
scientific community gain a better understanding of the universe's
formation."
SPHEREx is the first all-sky near-infrared spectral survey. It
will produce four complete all-sky maps during its two-year mission
to study the nature of physics that drove cosmic inflation in the
early universe and help to answer questions such as: How did the
universe begin? How did galaxies begin? What are the
conditions for life outside of the solar system? Dr.
James Bock of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the
principal investigator for SPHEREx and NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) is the managing center.
The SPHEREx observatory is considered a medium-sized satellite,
about the size of a subcompact car. The spacecraft is based on the
customizable and proven line of Ball Configurable Platform (BCP)
buses. A smaller version of the BCP served as the basis for NASA's
Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer spacecraft, which launched in
December on its mission to observe polarized X-rays from extreme
objects, such as neutron stars, stellar and supermassive black
holes.
Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission
focus, Ball Aerospace pioneers discoveries that enable our
customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters
most. We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate
weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet,
deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who
defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. Go
Beyond with Ball.® For more information, visit
www.ball.com/aerospace or connect with us on Facebook or
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About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL)
supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for
beverage, personal care 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
24,300 people worldwide and reported 2021 net sales of $13.8 billion. For more information, visit
www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
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"forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial
performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates,"
"believes," and similar expressions typically identify
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other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based
on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to
risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events
to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should
therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking
statements and they should be read in conjunction with, and
qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements
referenced below. 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 factors,
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and
results to be different 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.
Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments
include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and
fluctuations and changes in consumption patterns; availability/cost
of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging,
pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint
adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup
of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies,
productivity improvements or cost reductions; unfavorable mandatory
deposit or packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation;
power and supply chain interruptions; changes in major customer or
supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier;
inability to pass through increased costs; political instability
and sanctions; currency controls; changes in foreign exchange or
tax rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental
actions, including business restrictions and shelter-in-place
orders in any country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by
us or in our supply chain, including imported raw materials; 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 above plus: the
extent to which sustainability-related opportunities arise and can
be capitalized upon; changes in senior management, succession, and
the ability to attract and retain skilled labor; regulatory actions
or issues including those related to tax, ESG reporting,
competition, 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; the ability to manage cyber threats;
litigation; strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes;
inflation; rates of return on assets of the company's defined
benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties
surrounding geopolitical events and governmental policies,
including policies, orders, and actions related to COVID-19;
reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and
successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and
divestitures, and their effects on our operating results and
business generally.
Media Contact: Joanna
Climer
(303) 939-7041, joanna.climer@ballaerospace.com
Investor Relations: Ann
Scott
(303) 460-3537,
ascott@ball.com
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SOURCE Ball Aerospace