The hydrogen will be used to fuel the Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term lunar presence, continuing Air Products' long-standing partnership with NASA.
Air Products, a global leader in industrial gases, has successfully completed its largest-ever liquid hydrogen delivery to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), filling the world's largest liquid hydrogen sphere at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The monumental delivery of over 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen will be used to fuel the Artemis missions, which aim to return humanity to the Moon.
The successful first fill of the colossal hydrogen sphere marks a significant milestone in the preparation for NASA's Artemis missions. The sphere, which stands 90 feet tall and 83 feet in diameter, is a critical piece of infrastructure for storing the cryogenic propellant needed for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Air Products delivered more than 50 trailer loads of the super-cooled liquid hydrogen, a process that showcases the company's robust supply chain and its ability to provide world-scale levels of industrial gases safely and reliably.
The Artemis program's goal is not only to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon but also to establish a long-term lunar presence, paving the way for future human missions to Mars. The liquid hydrogen supplied by Air Products, when combined with liquid oxygen, serves as a powerful fuel for the cryogenic rocket engines that will propel the Orion spacecraft and its crew on these ambitious journeys.
This latest achievement deepens the long-standing collaboration between Air Products and NASA, which began in 1957. Air Products has been a consistent partner in the U.S. space program, supplying essential industrial gases for some of the most historic missions in history. The company’s contributions trace back to the earliest Mercury program, through the Apollo era and the Space Shuttle program, and extend to current missions, including those studying Mars.
Francesco Maione, Air Products’ President of the Americas, emphasized the importance of this partnership. "This hydrogen fill, which is Air Products' largest ever for NASA, successfully demonstrates our ability to supply world-scale levels of industrial gases safely and reliably through our robust supply chain, so NASA can confidently continue its important work for future missions to the Moon and beyond," he said.
Beyond its foundational role in government space programs, Air Products is also heavily involved in supporting the burgeoning private space sector. As the "new space race" accelerates with an increasing number of independent companies pursuing space exploration, the demand for reliable and large-scale hydrogen supply has grown exponentially.
