By developing this technology and making it more cost effective, other government and non-government entities will benefit from a lighter-weight, deployable, and flexible cryogen tank to meet cooling and storage needs in industries such as medical, biotech, high-temperature superconductors, and telecommunications. The potential for application in the transport and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) would provide significant potential to a large and growing market. NASA is interested in lightweight cryotanks for significant weight savings over conventional metal tanks. The development of composite-structured tanks has not been fully realized because these material systems have suffered from significant reliability issues due to crazing or microcracking in the composite matrix. Lightweight tanks will be necessary for cryogenic propellant storage to support NASA's space exploration initiatives. Cryotank mass and thermal efficiency improvements will enable long-term cryogen storage for space-based propellant depots, cryogenic storage of propellants on an Earth Departure Stage, propellant tanks for heavy lift vehicles and descent or ascent vehicles. Lunar habitation outposts requiring the storage of large cryogenic fuel masses and liquid oxygen and nitrogen for human habitation would also benefit from this technology.
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