NASA Awards LOXSAT Contract to Rocket Lab for Cryogenic Propellant Demo
Summary: NASA announced on May 19, 2026 the award of the LOXSAT (Low-Xenon Satellite) contract to Rocket Lab's Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, California. The satellite will demonstrate key technologies for storing and transferring super-chilled cryogenic propellants in microgravity, laying the groundwork for on-orbit refueling needed by Artemis lunar landers and future Mars missions.
About LOXSAT
Both NASA's Orion spacecraft and commercial lunar landers contracted under the Human Landing System (HLS) program rely on cryogenic propellants and require on-orbit refueling to complete their missions of landing astronauts on the lunar surface and returning them to the Gateway or Earth.
LOXSAT will test critical cryogenic fluid management technologies in the space environment, validating the systems needed for long-duration deep space missions. These capabilities are considered essential for extending mission duration and range beyond what can be achieved with a single launch.
Significance for Artemis and Mars
On-orbit refueling is a key enabling technology for crewed missions beyond cislunar space. By refueling in orbit, spacecraft can carry more propellant than would be possible in a single launch, dramatically extending mission duration and enabling ambitious deep space exploration.
Image Credit
- Rocket Lab / NASA