Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ribbon cut on cryogenics control building

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA cut the ribbon on a new cryogenics control center at John C. Stennis Space Center today, marking near completion of a project to strengthen protection for liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen barges in the event of a natural disaster. The new structure consolidates LH and LOX operations and provides a safe shelter for a disaster ride-out crew. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, NASA conducted a study to identify support systems at the site that should be "hardened" to withstand the impacts of future storms. The study cited the need to provide a safe haven for LH and LOX cryogenic barges needed to perform rocket engine testing at the south Mississippi facility. The project ensures a safe haven for all six LOX and three LH barges at Stennis. (Source: NASA, 03/30/10)