Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 25, Air Products, based in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, announced the successful completion of the first fill of the world’s largest hydrogen sphere at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. The sphere, which measures 90 feet tall and 83 feet in diameter, is designed to store liquid hydrogen used in combination with liquid oxygen as fuel for NASA’s cryogenic rocket engines.

Air Products completed the first liquid hydrogen fill of the world’s largest hydrogen sphere at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

To accomplish the fill, Air Products delivered more than 50 trailer loads of liquid hydrogen, totaling over 730,000 gallons, to NASA’s new facility. This operation represents Air Products’ largest hydrogen fill for NASA to date. The stored hydrogen will be used to power Artemis missions, which aim to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo program and establish a sustainable long-term presence there.

Francesco Maione, Air Products’ President, Americas, said: “Air Products has a long history dating back into the 1950s of working with NASA, and stretching from well before the successful Apollo 11 moon landing to more recent missions to study Mars. This hydrogen fill, which is Air Products’ largest ever for NASA, successfully demonstrates our ability to supply world-scale levels of industrial gases safely and reliably through our robust supply chain, so NASA can confidently continue its important work for future missions to the Moon and beyond.”

The partnership between Air Products and NASA began in 1957 and has spanned decades of collaboration in supplying liquid hydrogen and other gases for space exploration. The company has supported key programs including Mercury, Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and Orion. Beyond fueling launches, Air Products has also supplied hydrogen for NASA’s engine testing at facilities such as Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, Johnson Space Center in Texas, and Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

In addition to government missions, Air Products plays an active role in supporting the growing sector of privatized space exploration. The company provides hydrogen and industrial gas solutions to independent space companies conducting commercial launches and other space-related projects.

The completion of the first fill at the Kennedy Space Center underscores Air Products’ capacity to manage large-scale supply operations and contribute to critical infrastructure for space missions. By ensuring safe and reliable hydrogen delivery, the company continues to play a central role in advancing rocket fuel technology and supporting NASA’s next phase of lunar exploration.

With the Artemis program aiming to create the first sustained human presence on the Moon, Air Products’ involvement highlights the importance of industrial partnerships in enabling ambitious space initiatives. The successful fill of the hydrogen sphere marks a milestone for both NASA and Air Products, building on a legacy of collaboration that has extended from the early stages of the U.S. space program to current and future missions beyond Earth.