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There are arguments against the storage of hydrogen for use as a propellant in answers to this questionanswers to this question.

Speaking of LOX - there isn't any on the ISS. In this answerthis answer it is explained that oxygen is brought to the ISS in very high pressure gaseous form, and stored as a high pressure gas. To develop significant thrust, it is usually necessary to deliver oxygen and hydrogen in liquid form to get enough mass per second into a small enough reaction volume. So a system to produce and store LOX would also be necessary.

There are arguments against the storage of hydrogen for use as a propellant in answers to this question.

Speaking of LOX - there isn't any on the ISS. In this answer it is explained that oxygen is brought to the ISS in very high pressure gaseous form, and stored as a high pressure gas. To develop significant thrust, it is usually necessary to deliver oxygen and hydrogen in liquid form to get enough mass per second into a small enough reaction volume. So a system to produce and store LOX would also be necessary.

There are arguments against the storage of hydrogen for use as a propellant in answers to this question.

Speaking of LOX - there isn't any on the ISS. In this answer it is explained that oxygen is brought to the ISS in very high pressure gaseous form, and stored as a high pressure gas. To develop significant thrust, it is usually necessary to deliver oxygen and hydrogen in liquid form to get enough mass per second into a small enough reaction volume. So a system to produce and store LOX would also be necessary.

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Using LH2 for regular burns to maintain ISS altitude would require somehow adding a whole new set of engines that may not yet exist anywhere. While LH2 is one ofto the main workhorses getting big things into space from a launchpadISS , or transferring the hydrogen (eand LOX from somewhere) to a docked spacecraft which could be refueled.g

Speaking of LOX - there isn't any on the ISS. Saturn V except 1st stageIn this answer it is explained that oxygen is brought to the ISS in very high pressure gaseous form, Space Shuttle) it's not usually keptand stored for long periodsas a high pressure gas. To develop significant thrust, and engines designed for long term usageit is usually necessary to deliver oxygen and multiple starts over time without maintenance would behydrogen in liquid form to get enough mass per second into a technical challengesmall enough reaction volume. Engines that use cryogenic fuels are substantially more complexSo a system to build, operate,produce and maintain, as they have components that require pre-ignition cool downsstore LOX would also be necessary.

Using LH2 for regular burns to maintain ISS altitude would require a whole new set of engines that may not yet exist anywhere. While LH2 is one of the main workhorses getting big things into space from a launchpad (e.g. Saturn V except 1st stage, Space Shuttle) it's not usually kept stored for long periods, and engines designed for long term usage and multiple starts over time without maintenance would be a technical challenge. Engines that use cryogenic fuels are substantially more complex to build, operate, and maintain, as they have components that require pre-ignition cool downs.

Using LH2 for regular burns to maintain ISS altitude would require somehow adding a new set of engines to the ISS , or transferring the hydrogen (and LOX from somewhere) to a docked spacecraft which could be refueled.

Speaking of LOX - there isn't any on the ISS. In this answer it is explained that oxygen is brought to the ISS in very high pressure gaseous form, and stored as a high pressure gas. To develop significant thrust, it is usually necessary to deliver oxygen and hydrogen in liquid form to get enough mass per second into a small enough reaction volume. So a system to produce and store LOX would also be necessary.

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uhoh
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Then you have to invent an engine that can effectively use the hydrogen, which now means you haveUsing LH2 for regular burns to dip into your precious supplymaintain ISS altitude would require a whole new set of liquid oxygen to run the engineengines that may not yet exist anywhere. There While LH2 is so much experience with the typesone of engines and propellants used now that it's hard to imagine starting againthe main workhorses getting big things into space from scratch for a hydrogen powered enginelaunchpad (e.g. Saturn V except 1st stage, Space Shuttle) it's not usually kept stored for long periods, and even harder to imagine how itengines designed for long term usage and multiple starts over time without maintenance would be bettera technical challenge. Engines that use cryogenic fuels are substantially more complex to build, operate, and maintain, as they have components that require pre-ignition cool downs.

Then you have to invent an engine that can effectively use the hydrogen, which now means you have to dip into your precious supply of liquid oxygen to run the engine. There is so much experience with the types of engines and propellants used now that it's hard to imagine starting again from scratch for a hydrogen powered engine, and even harder to imagine how it would be better.

Using LH2 for regular burns to maintain ISS altitude would require a whole new set of engines that may not yet exist anywhere. While LH2 is one of the main workhorses getting big things into space from a launchpad (e.g. Saturn V except 1st stage, Space Shuttle) it's not usually kept stored for long periods, and engines designed for long term usage and multiple starts over time without maintenance would be a technical challenge. Engines that use cryogenic fuels are substantially more complex to build, operate, and maintain, as they have components that require pre-ignition cool downs.

Copy edited (e.g. ref. <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/liquefy#Verb>).
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