// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Cryogenic Propellant
Cryogenic propellants are rocket fuels or oxidizers that must be stored at extremely low temperatures to remain in liquid form.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Cryogenic propellants are rocket fuels (e.g., liquid hydrogen) or oxidizers (e.g., liquid oxygen) that exist as liquids only at extremely low temperatures, requiring specialized insulated tanks and handling procedures, and are favored for their high specific impulse in high-performance launch vehicles.
BACKGROUND
An orbital propellant depot is a cache of propellant that is placed in orbit around Earth or another body to allow spacecraft or the transfer stage of the spacecraft to be fueled in space. It is one of the types of space resource depots that have been proposed for enabling infrastructure-based space exploration. Many depot concepts exist depending on the type of fuel to be supplied, location, or type of depot which may also include a propellant tanker that delivers a single load to a spacecraft at a specified orbital location and then departs. In-space fuel depots are not necessarily located near or at a space station.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- LOX/LH2
- Super-cooled fuel
- Liquid hydrogen
- Liquid oxygen
USAGE NOTE
The Space Launch System uses vast quantities of cryogenic propellants.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Cryogenic Propellant.
Develops and operates launch vehicles like Falcon 9 (LOX/RP-1) and Starship (LOX/Methane), heavily relying on cryogenic propellants for high performance.
Developing rocket engines such as the BE-4 (LOX/Methane) and BE-3 (LOX/LH2) for their New Glenn launch vehicle and other applications, focusing on reusable cryogenic propulsion.
Operates the Delta IV (LOX/LH2) and Atlas V (LOX/RP-1) rockets and is developing the Vulcan Centaur, which will use cryogenic LOX/Methane for its main engines and LOX/LH2 for its upper stage.
A joint venture between Airbus and Safran, responsible for the Ariane family of launch vehicles (e.g., Ariane 5 and Ariane 6), which extensively use cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants.
A leading designer and manufacturer of advanced cryogenic rocket engines, including the RS-25 (LOX/LH2) for NASA's Space Launch System and the RL10 (LOX/LH2) used on various upper stages.
Conducts extensive research, development, and utilization of cryogenic propulsion systems for deep-space missions and launch vehicles like the Space Launch System (SLS), which uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
Develops and operates the H-IIA/B and H3 launch vehicles for Japan, which primarily use cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants for their main and upper stage engines.
While their Electron rocket uses RP-1, Rocket Lab is developing the Neutron launch vehicle, which will utilize cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid methane for its propulsion system.