NASA satellite will test orbital 'gas station' tech to help astronauts reach the moon and Mars

NASA mission to test space fuel transfer tech for future moon journeys

On-orbit refueling is crucial for the future of human spaceflight. Large crewed spacecraft, such as SpaceX’s Starship, will expend most of their fuel launching into Earth’s orbit. To travel to the moon, Mars, and beyond, they will have to dock with another spacecraft capable of supplying the fuel needed for the long journey ahead. Now, a new NASA satellite will test a key technology for storing and transferring cryogenic fuels in space. The Liqu…

NASA satellite will test orbital 'gas station' tech to help astronauts reach the moon and Mars

The Liquid Oxygen Flight demonstration (LOXSAT) will help NASA test and develop technologies to support in-space transfer and storage of cryogenic propellants, critical abilities for the Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon.

NASA's first step toward gas stations in space launches in July

Imagine setting out on a cross-country road trip with no gas stations anywhere along the way — that is the same challenge NASA faces in the vast expanse of space. To help solve this problem, the agency is launching a groundbreaking mission this summer to test technology that will pave the way for orbital gas stations, allowing spacecraft to top off their tanks mid-journey to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASA’s upcoming LOXSAT launch could transfo…