Plug Power Wins First NASA Contract: Powering the Future of Space Exploration

by Prathik Jayaprakash

Plug Power Inc., a global leader in comprehensive hydrogen solutions, officially began its first contract with NASA today. The agreement involves supplying up to 218,000 kilograms (480,000 pounds) of liquid hydrogen to support critical operations at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio.

Valued at up to $2.8 million, this milestone contract marks Plug’s first liquid hydrogen supply award from NASA. The achievement highlights Plug’s ability to meet the space agency’s rigorous standards for performance, purity, and reliability. By securing this contract, Plug successfully enters the burgeoning space industry—a sector poised to become a major consumer of liquid hydrogen in the coming years.

The award serves as a strategic foundation for future opportunities, proving that Plug can offer competitive pricing even for high-demand, mission-critical applications. It also showcases the rapid growth and reliability of Plug’s U.S. hydrogen network, which continues to provide scalable, low-carbon energy solutions across the country.

Plug will manage the delivery of liquid hydrogen through its dedicated cryogenic transport fleet, utilizing its expansive national production network. By leveraging multiple generation sites, Plug ensures supply redundancy and security, providing consistent uptime for NASA alongside its existing industrial, mobility, and energy clients.

“Selection by NASA is a powerful validation of Plug’s ability to deliver high-purity, low-carbon hydrogen where reliability is non-negotiable,” said José Luis Crespo, President and Chief Revenue Officer of Plug. “With NASA consuming over 37 million pounds of liquid hydrogen annually, this contract is a vital first step in what we envision as a long-term partnership. As we demonstrate our performance, we look forward to playing an even larger role in supporting NASA’s missions.”

This contract reinforces Plug’s long-term strategy to expand its hydrogen ecosystem beyond material handling into specialized, high-specification markets. From aerospace and industrial operations to next-generation energy systems, Plug is committed to advancing energy resilience and the global transition to low-carbon hydrogen.