← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Under the Propellant Production Plant Tipping Point (Pro-TP) project, Blue Origin's goal is to build and test a full-scale In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen (LO2/LH2) liquefaction and storage prototype testbed that could be used or replicated on the first flight Blue Moon descent lander. This test bed would use full-scale Blue Moon hardware and commercial cryocooler systems. The initial contract focuses on the more difficult LH2 system, with a potential contract modification to add the LO2 side as budget allows.
The proposed program pulls together all the critical technologies that NASA and industry
have been developing for years into a full-scale O2/H2 demonstration for the final
push to tip lunar propellant liquefaction towards routine operation. At TRL6 there will be high
confidence in our ability to produce propellant reliably.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.