Air Products to design and build NASA''s $16.8 million liquid nitrogen plant

PRNewswire reports that Air Products recently joined NASA at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $16.8 million liquid nitrogen plant for NASA''s National Transonic Facility (NTF). The new plant, designed and supplied by Air Products, is scheduled for a 2008 start-up. It will be owned by NASA and operated by NASA''s on-site support contractor. NASA''s National Transonic Facility contains several high-tech operations, including the largest cryogenic wind tunnel in the world. NTF uses liquid nitrogen to produce a high quality, high-altitude test environment for aircraft development and refinement. The new dedicated plant will provide NASA with a secure, long-term supply of liquid nitrogen, substantially reducing the cost of research and testing at the facility. NTF performs research and development testing for government and non-government applications, including aerospace and commercial customers.