NASA Awards Liquid Hydrogen Supply Contracts
NASA has recently awarded contracts to Plug Power, Inc. and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. for the supply of liquid hydrogen, a critical component for the agency’s rocket propulsion systems. This significant contract, valued at approximately $147.2 million, will enable NASA to procure up to 36,952,000 pounds of liquid hydrogen to support its various facilities, including the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Stennis Space Center. The contracts, which commence on December 1, 2023, are structured as firm-fixed-price requirements contracts that include multiple delivery orders, ensuring a steady supply of this essential fuel over the coming years.
Air Products will be the primary supplier, providing around 36.5 million pounds of liquid hydrogen for a maximum contract value of about $144.4 million. This supply will be crucial for NASA’s operations in Florida and Alabama, particularly in the development and testing of cryogenic rocket engines that utilize liquid hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. Meanwhile, Plug Power will contribute approximately 480,000 pounds of liquid hydrogen, valued at about $2.8 million, to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio and the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility. The contracts are designed with a two-year base period, followed by three optional one-year extensions, potentially extending the partnership until November 30, 2030.
The decision to contract these companies reflects NASA’s ongoing commitment to advancing aeronautics and space exploration through reliable and innovative fuel sources. Liquid hydrogen plays a pivotal role in the propulsion systems of modern rockets, providing the necessary thrust for launching spacecraft into orbit. As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, partnerships with companies like Plug Power and Air Products will be vital in ensuring the success of future missions. For more information on NASA’s programs and initiatives, you can visit their official website.
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:
-end-
Tiernan Doyle
Headquarters, Washington
tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
202-358-1600
Amanda Griffin
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
amanda.griffin@nasa.gov
321-593-6244
Share
Details
Last Updated
Nov 21, 2025
Location
NASA Headquarters
Related Terms
NASA Centers & Facilities
Glenn Research Center
Kennedy Space Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
Stennis Space Center
