Without much discussion, Brevard County Commission unanimously approved a temporary use agreement Tuesday to let a nearby property serve as a construction staging area for the expansion of the Linde’s industrial gas plant in Mims off Hammock Road.
SpaceX and NASA’s need for more key gases for rocket launches is fueling a major expansion
What’s happened?
Brevard County Commission’s vote Tuesday (Feb. 10) after a public hearing approved an agreement to provide a temporary “laydown site” for Linde/Praxair Plant expansion at 2801 Hammock Rd., in Mims.
Linde (Praxair/Linde) is leasing nearby property at 2555 Hammock Rd., owned by J&S Enterprises of Mims, FL, Inc., for a construction yard during the plant expansion. They’ll use that site to store heavy construction equipment and materials and for worker parking while they upgrade their site about 600 feet to the north.
Why is this needed?
Proponents say the project serves national security interests and strengthens economic opportunities tied to the region’s booming space sector.
The improvements are tied directly to supporting launces for companies such as SpaceX and for NASA’s satellite and cargo programs, which rely on a steady industrial gas supply.
What does the Praxair/Linde facility do?
It supplies liquid oxygen and other gases for rocket launches and has been ramping up production to meet growing space industry demand, according to county records.
The plant does not supply liquefied natural gas, which often causes safety fears in nearby neighborhoods like the proposed LNG facility on Merritt Island.
Connecticut-based Praxair was NASA’s go-to supplier of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen until the company merged in 2018 with Linde, a German gas and chemical company.
Liquid oxygen also is often used to treat water by removing discoloration and natural smells.
How long will this go on?
The temporary use would be for a year with the option for extensions; the lease has option for up to three years. That’s the expected length of the expansion work.
What does SpaceX say about the expansion?
SpaceX supports the Praxair/Linde expansion.
“The additional capacity afforded by the new facility would support launches of crucial payloads to orbit for NASA, the National Security Space community, allied foreign governments, and commercial customers,” Tracy Thomas, SpaceX’s director of launch and recovery supply chain, wrote a June 12, 2025 letter to the county.
In 2024, SpaceX flew 136 times, including 90 flights from Florida, which set a record for any U.S. launch company, Thomas added.
CMC Steel Florida and Nucor Steel Florida both also wrote letters in support of the expansion project.
What if they harm Hammock Road?
To protect nearby infrastructure, the owner must post a ‘haul bond’ to cover any damage to Hammock Road caused by heavy truck traffic.
The company will erect a a screened chain‑link fence around the site and have to obey county noise regulations. The property owner also would have to carry multiple insurance policies and remove all materials once construction is finished or face enforcement action.
Contact Waymer at (321) 261-5903 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com. Follow him on X at @JWayEnviro.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County approves Linde plant expansion for SpaceX, NASA launches
Reporting by Jim Waymer, Florida Today / Florida Today
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