Updated on August 15, 2026 • 4 min read
Infinite Composites Inc. has secured a $2.9 million subcontract tied to NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative to develop two main cryogenic propellant tanks for a lunar lander.
The latest award brings the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company’s total value of CLPS-related contracts to more than $5.5 million.
Unlike its previous contracts involving pressurant and reaction control system (RCS) tanks, the new project moves Infinite Composites into development of the lander’s two primary cryogenic propellant tanks.
From Pressurant Tanks to Main Propellant Storage
Infinite Composites specializes in advanced composite pressure vessels designed to store high-pressure and cryogenic gases.
The latest contract expands the scope of its lunar work. The company says it has been working with three commercial companies during the past four years on spacecraft intended for lunar missions.
Its development activities have also included contracts directly with NASA for tank evaluation and work supported by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).
Through the OCAST-supported work, Infinite Composites collaborated with Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on technology development that the company says ultimately contributed to securing subsequent contracts.
Composite Tanks Already Integrated Into Lunar Lander
Infinite Composites says its technology has already been integrated into what it describes as one of the largest lunar landers ever built.
That vehicle has recently completed a series of qualification tests and is expected to fly to the Moon in early 2027, according to the company.
The program provides another step in the company’s progression from composite pressure-vessel development toward flight-qualified hardware for space missions.
Michael Tate, founder and COO of Infinite Composites, says interest in the company’s space technology has increased following the achievement of flight heritage across several applications.
In 2025, Infinite Composites reported flight heritage involving a geosynchronous Earth orbit satellite, hypersonic flight and hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles.
Tate says some of these earlier programs are now progressing toward higher demand while generating additional interest from defense and aviation applications.
Manufacturing Expansion Opens Larger Tank Opportunities
The contract follows a manufacturing expansion announced by Infinite Composites in May 2026.
The investment was supported by the company’s investors and funding through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP).
According to founder and CEO Matt Villarreal, the additional equipment expanded both the company’s manufacturing capacity and its ability to produce larger-diameter pressure vessels.
Those capabilities have subsequently opened opportunities for larger aerospace and space structures, including the latest lunar lander contract.
Cryogenic Composite Tanks Take on a Larger Space Role
Cryogenic propellant storage presents demanding material and manufacturing requirements because tanks must operate at very low temperatures while maintaining structural integrity and pressure capability.
At the same time, spacecraft designers place a premium on reducing structural mass.
This combination has created opportunities for advanced composite pressure-vessel technologies in launch vehicles, spacecraft and lunar systems, provided they can satisfy the required qualification and operating conditions.
Infinite Composites’ latest contract is therefore significant not simply because of its $2.9 million value, but because the scope has progressed from secondary pressurant and RCS storage toward the lander’s main cryogenic propellant tanks.
For a company that has developed composite pressure vessels since 2010, that progression reflects an expanding role for its technology within commercial lunar spacecraft programs.
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Bruce Zhou is the Founder of Jota Machinery, where he leads the development of equipment for flexible packaging and advanced composite materials. With experience in composite processing since 2011, his work is centered on practical engineering, product reliability, and building long-term value for manufacturing customers worldwide.
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