De acordo com a novelização oficial do filme, o único propósito declarado do "líquido" parece ser servir como escudo de radiação para a tripulação enquanto em estase:
“You are literally wasting your breath,” she said. She got into the bed and lay down. The lid slid shut over her, encasing her in a plastic sheath. Liquid began filling in around the plastic, where it would freeze into a shield that would help protect her from the two years’ worth of radiation that would sleet through the hull as she slept.
Não há descrição específica da composição do fluido