NASA Tests Ice-to-Fuel Tech for Lander Refueling

Experts at NASA's Glenn Research Center are testing technology that could transform how future space exploration missions are fueled.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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NASA engineers are testing the CryoFILL (Cryogenic Fluid In-Situ Liquefaction for Landers) project, which could allow for the production and liquefaction of oxygen on the Moon or Mars to fuel landers, reducing the amount of propellant needed to launch from Earth. The technology uses a flight-like cryocooler to remove heat from the system that extracts oxygen from water ice, allowing the oxygen to condense and remain at extremely cold temperatures.

Why it matters

Reducing the amount of propellant needed to launch from Earth could significantly lower the costs and extend the duration of planetary surface operations for future space exploration missions. This technology is a critical step towards NASA's goal of using the Moon's resources to sustain a long-term presence on the lunar surface.

The details

The CryoFILL project is being tested at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. NASA engineers are using a flight-like cryocooler, developed by Creare LLC, to remove heat from the system that extracts oxygen from water ice. This allows the oxygen to condense and remain at extremely cold temperatures below minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Over the next three months, NASA engineers will study how oxygen condenses under various conditions, use the data to validate temperature computer models, and demonstrate how NASA can scale the technology for larger applications.

  • The CryoFILL system is being tested at NASA Glenn Research Center's Creek Road Cryogenics Complex on September 24, 2025.
  • NASA engineers will study the oxygen condensation process and validate computer models over the next three months.

The players

Jonathan Davis

A NASA engineer who is inspecting a flight-like cryocooler developed by Creare LLC prior to its integration into the CryoFILL system.

Markus Perkins

A NASA engineer who is inspecting a flight-like cryocooler developed by Creare LLC prior to its integration into the CryoFILL system.

Evan Racine

The CryoFILL project manager at NASA Glenn Research Center.

Wesley Johnson

The CryoFILL lead engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center.

Creare LLC

A company that developed the flight-like cryocooler being used in the CryoFILL system through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research program.

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What they’re saying

“If you think about how much fuel your spacecraft would need to go to Mars and come home, it's quite a lot. If we can produce and liquefy oxygen on the Moon or Mars, we can fuel landers on the surface where they land, reducing the amount of propellant needed to launch from Earth.”

— Evan Racine, CryoFILL project manager at NASA Glenn

“We're testing with flight-like hardware to see how oxygen liquefies and how the system responds to different scenarios. These are critical steps toward scaling up and automating future in-situ refueling.”

— Wesley Johnson, CryoFILL lead engineer at NASA Glenn

What’s next

Over the course of the next three months, NASA engineers will study how oxygen condenses under various conditions, use the data to validate temperature computer models, and demonstrate how NASA can scale the technology for larger applications.

The takeaway

The CryoFILL project represents a significant step towards NASA's goal of using the Moon's resources to sustain long-term exploration and presence on the lunar surface, reducing the costs and extending the duration of future space missions.