Ball Aerospace finishes facility expansion

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BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. spacecraft manufacturer Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. has completed its $75 million expansion, effectively doubling its production capability.

The company on Friday said its advanced satellite manufacturing center in Boulder. Colo., added 90,000 square feet and can handle simultaneous satellite and spacecraft builds for NASA and the U.S. Defense Department.

The expansion included a 60 percent increase in clean room space, state-of-the-art environmental testing systems and build-out capacity for a larger thermal vacuum chamber to test spacecraft.

"Ball Aerospace plays a vital role on many of our nation's most critical programs and is committed to meeting customer mission needs for decades to come," said David L. Taylor, Ball Aerospace president and chief executive officer. "The expansion we proudly unveil today also affirms our commitment to growing Colorado's dynamic aerospace economy."

Expansion of another Ball manufacturing facility -- in Westminster, Colo. -- was completed in 2011.

Ball Aerospace is a major provider of remote-sensing satellites as well as space-based systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information.