SBSS gimbal

Ball Aerospace is a recognized leader in providing world-class electro-optical (EO) sensors and instruments for a wide range of military, civil and commercial applications. We have experience with the entire electro-magnetic spectrum, as well as active and passive cryogenic instruments. Ball has designed, built and tested EO systems for over 50 years, which provides us with the in-depth knowledge required to solve customer challenges.

Ball Aerospace’s electro-optic experience includes the High Resolution Camera (HiRISE) onboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is the largest telescopic instrument ever sent beyond Earth’s orbit; seven instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope, including the design and fabrication of the corrective optics to remedy the telescope’s spherical aberration; the Multispectral Camera on QuickBird 2 that provides panchromatic and multi-spectral images of the Earth’s surface; and, the cryogenic telescope assembly for the Spitzer Space telescope, which is the largest infrared telescope ever launched into space.

Kepler focal plane assembly

Ball Aerospace developed the visible sensor payload for the Air Force’s Space Based Space Surveillance System (SBSS) and the photometer for NASA’s Kepler Mission. Kepler launched in 2009 and SBSS is scheduled to launch in 2010.

With over 150 EO systems launched, we have the people, tools, facilities and experience to design, fabricate, integrate, test and deliver successful EO flight hardware.