BOULDER, Colo., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. congratulates NASA and the United States Geological Survey on the 40th anniversary of the Landsat program and its unparalleled global land surface observation record.

The first Earth-observing Landsat satellite launched on July 23, 1972. Since then, Landsat satellites have continuously collected Earth images to create an historical archive unmatched in quality, detail, coverage and length.

Ball Aerospace will provide its first instruments to help maintain Landsat's legacy when the Operational Land Imager and cryocooler for the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) are flown on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) mission scheduled to launch in early 2013.

OLI represents a great advancement in Landsat sensor technology by employing a more reliable design to improve performance. OLI's 14-module detector array enables it to scan with a pushbroom method rather than the older sweeping method. The OLI instrument provides 15-meter (49ft.) panchromatic and 30-meter (98 ft) multi-spectral spatial resolutions along a 185km (115 miles) wide swath allowing the entire globe to be imaged every 16 days. Radiometric performance from OLI and the TIRS instrument will be substantially better than any previous Landsat sensor flown.

 "The improved key sensor technology will help scientists achieve a greater understanding of the impact of land use change into a fourth decade," said Ball Aerospace president and CEO David L. Taylor. "OLI's sensitivity ultimately provides improved land surface information with fewer moving parts."

The demand for Landsat data continues to rise, with nearly three million scenes downloaded in 2011.

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 www.ballaerospace.com.

Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) 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 2011 sales of more than $8.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://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.