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Integrated Flight Demonstration (IFD)

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Description

Conduct ground testing and flight demonstration of cryogenic LH2 transfer (the most challenging of the cryogenic propellants) and long duration storage in space. IFD incorporates up to 17 critical technologies identified by NASA into a single system that demonstrates the transfer, storage, and pressure control of LH2.

Benefits

The ability to store and transfer liquid hydrogen (LH2) is critical to NASA’s Artemis architecture, a future Lunar “water-based economy,” and the ability to send humans to Mars. This demonstration will advance several critical CFM technologies with an in-space demonstration in a micro-gravity (μ-g) environment.

Details

Technology areaThermal Management Systems > Cryogenic Systems > In-Space Propellant Storage and Use
ProgramTechnology Demonstration Missions (TDM)
Lead organizationMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
Start date2021-05-01
End date2033-11-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.