Ball Aerospace Completes Primary Structure for JPSS-1, Scheduled for Launch in Early 2017

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has achieved a pivotal milestone for assuring continuity of the nation's future weather and storm forecasting by completing the primary bus structure of the first satellite in the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1). JPSS-1 is the follow-on in a series of next generation satellites and is scheduled for launch in early 2017. Procured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), JPSS-1 will continue the observations now provided by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, also built by Ball and launched in 2011.  The continuity these satellites provide on orbit is critical for ensuring the nation's ability to accurately predict severe weather. "We remain ahead of schedule in meeting our milestones," said Cary Ludtke, vice president and general manager for Ball's Operational Space business unit. "JPSS-1 will operationalize the advanced technologies currently being demonstrated on Suomi NPP, and with the satellite's core structure complete, we can now push on to assembly, integration and test as we prepare for instrument integration in November 2014." JPSS will See full press release