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Completed TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 5)
The long-term goal under the Lunar Propellant Production Plant Tipping Point (LP3-TP) is development of a system capable of producing liquid hydrogen and oxygen from a water feedstock, with the ability to scale to 10’s of metric tons per month and operate with no human involvement. The goal references locations of the lunar surface or in space, two very different environments.
Proppelant liquefaction on the lunar surface is a key technology component to enabling in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the lunar surface. ISRU is considered key to achieving a sustainable exploration program. Water, and its oxygen and hydrogen elements, can be used for a wide variety of space applications including drinking and cooling water, breathing oxygen, fuel cell reactants, and especially LOX/LH2 for rocket propellants. The propellant application is particularly attractive since propellants typically make up a large fraction of the lift-off mass of spacecraft and rockets.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.
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