The new fertilizer-producing facility near Launch Pad 39A

[KSC-00PP-0510]

  • Photo Number: KSC-00PP-0510

  • Release Date: 07-Apr-2000

    • Description: A recently installed fertilizer-producing system sits near Launch Pad 39A (upper left background). Using a "scrubber," the system captures nitrogen tetroxide vapor that develops as a by-product when it is transferred from ground storage tanks into the Shuttle storage tanks. Nitrogen tetroxide is used as the oxidizer for the hypergolic propellant in the Shuttle's on-orbit reaction control system. The scrubber then uses hydrogen peroxide to produce nitric acid, which, after adding potassium hydroxide, converts to potassium nitrate, a commercial fertilizer. The black tanker at left is collecting the potassium nitrate, which will be used on the orange groves that KSC leases to outside companies.

    Resolution Format Width
    (Pixels)    		 Height
    (Pixels)    		 Size
    (Bytes)
    Thumbnail GIF 100 67 10222
    Slide GIF 172 148 36670
    Low GIF 320 215 98115
    Medium JPEG 1024 687 164546
    High JPEG 2670 1791 784703

    Point of Contact

    Name: NASA Kennedy Space Center

    Address:

    KSC Public Affairs Office
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

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    Photos By: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Scanned By: Seven/Still Photo Imaging
    Captions: InDyne, Inc.
    Curator: NASA/KSC Internet Systems Lab (Dumoulin, Downs, Paladino)
    Last Updated: Tuesday August 28 18:44:10 EDT 2001 (Anita Barrett)

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