
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 6400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02046]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Results of FAA Nitrous Oxide BLEVE Characterization Testing

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public teleconference.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public teleconference to share with 
the public results of recent FAA sponsored testing of nitrous oxide 
(N2O) characteristics. Nitrous oxide is an important 
oxidizer to developers of some commercial reusable launch vehicles. A 
potential hazard in nitrous oxide storage and handling is a Boiling 
Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE), which results from a sudden 
loss of pressure in a tank containing nitrous oxide stored under 
pressure above its normal boiling point. The FAA's Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation sponsored tests of liquid-phase nitrous oxide at 
NASA's White Sands Test Facility to empirically determine the superheat 
limit temperature for nitrous oxide, and to demonstrate that a BLEVE 
would not occur if the liquid is maintained at temperatures below this 
superheat limit temperature.
    Meeting Information: The teleconference is scheduled for Thursday, 
February 28, 2013, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 
presentation and call-in number will be posted one week in advance at 
http://www.ast.faa.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stewart Jackson, Division Manager, 
Regulations and Analysis Division, AST-300, Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 267-7903, or email at 
stewart.jackson@faa.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 22, 2013.
George C. Nield,
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2013-02046 Filed 1-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


