BROOMFIELD, Colo., Dec. 18,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace was selected to
conduct a Phase A study for NASA's proposed Extreme ultraviolet
Coronal Mass Ejection and Coronal Connectivity Observatory (ECCCO),
a mission that would provide astronomers with a better
understanding of the sun's coronal structure and its relationship
with solar wind and eruptive events.
The proposed mission would use a wide-field extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) imager (ECCCO-I) and a pair of imaging EUV spectrographs
(ECCCO-S) to provide the first continuous, high-contrast
observations of the middle corona, the outermost layer of the sun's
atmosphere. While there is instrumentation in place to observe the
inner and outer corona, the middle corona — and how eruptive
phenomena shape within it — remains largely a mystery for
researchers.
Through a combination of advanced imaging and spectroscopy, the
ECCCO mission seeks to uncover new insights into the physical
transitions occurring within the middle corona to determine the
sources, release, dynamics and acceleration of outward streaming
solar wind and major eruptions like coronal mass ejections.
"The middle corona is one of the least explored and little
understood regions of the solar atmosphere," said Dr. Alberto Conti, vice president and general
manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace. "The ECCCO mission would
finally fill a major observational gap for the scientific
community, expanding our knowledge about the transformations of
matter and energy taking place within the sun's middle corona."
Katharine Reeves, a solar
astrophysicist with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
— part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian — will serve as the
principal investigator for the study. If the mission moves forward,
Ball Aerospace will design and build the spacecraft in addition to
leading integration and environmental testing. SAO will be
responsible for designing and delivering the imager and
spectrometers, in addition to leading science planning for the
mission, supporting payload operations and archiving flight data
among other tasks.
In addition to ECCCO, Ball Aerospace was also selected to
conduct a concept study for NASA's Chromospheric Magnetism Explorer
(CMEx) mission, which seeks to determine the influence of the sun's
magnetic field on eruption events. Both the ECCCO and CMEx studies
are part of NASA's Small Explorers (SMEX) program. If NASA chooses
to pursue either project after the studies, they would join the
administration's heliophysics mission fleet.
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
Twitter.
About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL)
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
21,000 people worldwide and reported 2022 net sales of $15.35
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," "believes," and similar expressions
typically identify forward-looking statements, which are generally
any statements 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. Ball 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 Ball's Form 10-K,
which are available on Ball's website and at www.sec.gov.
Additional factors that might affect: a) Ball's 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 and
related events such as drought, wildfires, storms, hurricanes,
tornadoes and floods; 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;
war, political instability and sanctions, including relating to the
situation in Russia and
Ukraine and its impact on Ball's
supply chain and its ability to operate in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa regions
generally; changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; and tariffs,
trade actions, or other governmental actions, including business
restrictions and orders affecting goods produced by Ball or in its
supply chain, including imported raw materials; b) Ball's aerospace
segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of
government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and
technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; failure to
obtain, or delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals or
clearances for the proposed transaction; any failure by the parties
to satisfy any of the other conditions to the proposed transaction;
the possibility that the proposed transaction is ultimately not
consummated; potential adverse effects of the announcement or
results of the proposed transaction on the ability to develop and
maintain relationships with personnel and customers, suppliers and
others with whom it does business or otherwise on the business,
financial condition, results of operations and financial
performance; risks related to diversion of management's attention
from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction;
the impact of the proposed transaction on the ability to retain and
hire key personnel; and c) Ball 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, environmental, social and governance reporting,
competition, environmental, health and workplace safety, including
U.S. Federal Drug Administration and other actions or public
concerns affecting products filled in Ball's 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 Ball'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 Ball's debt;
successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and
divestitures, and their effects on Ball's operating results and
business generally; and potential adverse effects of the
announcement or results of the proposed transaction on the market
price of Ball Corporation's common stock.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-selects-ball-aerospace-for-eccco-mission-concept-study-302016401.html
SOURCE Ball Aerospace