Air Products announces 10-year agreement with Boing to provide helium and services for Delta IV Rocket System
Agreement Includes Proprietary Pumping System To Reduce Space Launch Costs
LEHIGH VALLEY Air Products has powered NASA missions to space for over 35 years. Now its aerospace efforts for the next decade with The Boeing Company will help to propel satellites into low-earth space orbit, a service increasing in demand for the commercial and military sectors.
Air Products' new 10-year agreement with Boeing is for the supply of high-pressure helium and a proprietary pumping system to be used by Boeing's Delta IV rocket program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Delta IV rocket system is part of a multi-year United States Air Force effort to reduce space launch costs through use of evolved expendable launch vehicles (EELV).
Air Products will supply high-pressure helium to the Delta IV rocket for use as a pressurizing agent and as a purge gas for the rocket's hydrogen fuel line. This helium will be provided by way of a new Air Products proprietary pumping system capable of supplying the gas at 6,000 psi and 100,000 feet per hour flow-rate. This novel system takes liquid helium and converts it to high-pressure gas on-site, or right at the point of use. "The pumping system allows Boeing a lot of latitude when it comes to helium storage. By converting liquid helium to a gaseous state right at the point of use, the usual logistics and associated costs of numerous deliveries and storage of gaseous helium can be avoided," said Mike McNallen, vice president�North America Gases at Air Products.
This proprietary pumping system's ability will decrease Delta IV program capital costs, and allow Boeing to move toward the Air Force's goals of low-earth orbit at decreased costs. "Air Products takes a real services and solutions approach to the business, and this is the kind of cost reduction, through technological advancement, that both Boeing and other customers are looking for to achieve cost-effective launches. Bringing new technology such as this proprietary pumping system to the market enhances Air Products' customer relationships," said McNallen.
Boeing plans five Delta IV launch missions alone in 2003, the first of which is to be a Defense Satellite Communications System. The governmental and commercial launches will occur at Space Complex Six (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. SLC-6, the west coast launch site for the Boeing Delta IV family of launch vehicles, was initially designed for a proposed Department of Defense Shuttle Program and was reconstructed to specifically support the Delta IV operations. The first launch of a Delta IV rocket was successfully initiated in November 2002 in Florida. Air Products serves customers in healthcare, technology, energy, and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. The company is the largest global supplier of helium, electronic materials, hydrogen and select performance chemicals. Founded in 1940, Air Products is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. With annual revenues of $5.4 billion and operations in 30 countries, the company's 17,500 employees build lasting relationships with their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion.
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