NASA Awards Liquid Hydrogen Supply Contracts
NASA has made a significant move in its ongoing efforts to advance space exploration by awarding contracts to Plug Power, Inc. and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. for the supply of liquid hydrogen, a crucial component for rocket fuel. The contracts, valued at approximately $147.2 million, will provide NASA with nearly 37 million pounds of liquid hydrogen to be utilized across various facilities, including the Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Stennis Space Center. This liquid hydrogen will be combined with liquid oxygen to fuel cryogenic rocket engines, which are vital for both current and future aeronautics and space missions.
The contracts, which commence on December 1, 2023, include a two-year base period followed by three optional one-year extensions, potentially lasting until November 30, 2030. Air Products will deliver about 36.5 million pounds of liquid hydrogen, primarily to NASA’s facilities in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, while Plug Power will supply around 480,000 pounds to the Glenn Research Center and the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. These strategic partnerships not only ensure a steady supply of this essential resource but also highlight NASA’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology and reliable suppliers in its quest for exploration beyond Earth.
Liquid hydrogen is prized for its unique properties, including its high energy density and efficiency when used as rocket fuel. As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the integration of advanced fuels like liquid hydrogen will be pivotal in missions aimed at returning humans to the Moon, sending astronauts to Mars, and beyond. These contracts exemplify NASA’s proactive approach to securing the necessary resources for its ambitious goals, reinforcing its role as a leader in aerospace innovation and exploration. For more information on NASA’s programs and initiatives, visit [NASA’s official website](https://www.nasa.gov/).
Credit: NASA
NASA has selected Plug Power, Inc., of Slingerlands, New York, and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., of Allentown, Pennsylvania, to supply up to approximately 36,952,000 pounds of liquid hydrogen for use at facilities across the agency.
The NASA Agency-wide Supply of Liquid Hydrogen awards are firm-fixed-price requirements contracts that include multiple firm-fixed-price delivery orders critical for the agency’s centers as they use liquid hydrogen, combined with liquid oxygen, as fuel in cryogenic rocket engines, and the commodity’s unique properties support the development of aeronautics. The total value for the combined awards is about $147.2 million.
The contracts begin Monday, Dec. 1, and each consists of a two-year base period followed by three one-year option periods that, if exercised, would extend the contracts to Nov. 30, 2030.
Air Products and Chemicals Inc. will supply up to about 36.5 million pounds of liquid hydrogen to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida; NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; and NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, for a maximum contract value of approximately $144.4 million.
Plug Power, Inc. will deliver up to approximately 480,000 pounds of the commodity to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and at Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, for a maximum contract value of about $2.8 million.
For additional information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
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Tiernan Doyle
Headquarters, Washington
tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
202-358-1600
Amanda Griffin
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
amanda.griffin@nasa.gov
321-593-6244
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Last Updated
Nov 21, 2025
Location
NASA Headquarters
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NASA Centers & Facilities
Glenn Research Center
Kennedy Space Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
Stennis Space Center
