Lithium hydroxide safeguards astronauts through CO₂ scrubbing in life-support systems and enables ultra-pure ceramics, shielding, and lightweight materials vital for spacecraft and satellites.

Space missions depend on lithium hydroxide — a material that has already saved lives in orbit. From the Apollo program through today’s Orion spacecraft, lithium hydroxide canisters have been used to scrub carbon dioxide from the air astronauts breathe. The famous Apollo 13 mission highlighted its importance when NASA engineers improvised an adapter to fit square LiOH canisters into round slots, ensuring the crew’s survival. Even now, lithium hydroxide remains a standard consumable in crewed missions, valued for its reliability and efficiency.

Looking forward, ultra-high-purity (≥99.99%) lithium compounds are set to enable a new generation of space materials. Lithium-based ceramics and specialty glass are being studied for lightweight, radiation-resistant windows and transparent domes, while lithium-containing shielding materials like LiH are under investigation for protecting astronauts from cosmic rays. These innovations will be essential as missions extend to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, where resupply is impossible and every material must perform flawlessly.

In space, “battery-grade” lithium is not enough. Only space-grade lithium delivers the purity and resilience required for life-support systems, advanced materials, and long-duration exploration.

For more information on space-grade lithium applications, please contact