The Cryogenic Propellant Storage & Transfer (CPST) Technology Demonstration Mission will demonstrate the capability to safely and efficiently store, transfer and measure cryogenic propellants on-orbit, enabling next-generation flight vehicles to store large quantities of fuel for their journeys of discovery. Why are cryogenic propellants of benefit to spaceflight? They dramatically
increase specific impulse, or the amount of thrust delivered per unit
mass of rocket fuel, providing much higher performance than conventional
propellants and permitting longer-range, higher-payload missions.
As NASA seeks innovative paths for human space exploration of multiple
potential destinations such as the moon, asteroids, the Lagrange points
-- where the gravitational pull from two celestial bodies cancels
each other out, permitting stationary orbit -- and Mars and beyond,
the need for high-performance technologies is crucial. |
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