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03-033
For Release: May 20, 2003

Sally V. Harrington
Media Relations Office
216/433-2037
Sally.V.Harrington{at}nasa.gov

NASA Advancing Fuel Cell Technology for Space Transportation
Applications

Fuel cell power generation technology originally developed by NASA
has seen extensive commercial development for future automotive and
residential applications. NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, is
now leveraging those commercial developments to further advance the
technology for space transportation applications. The power systems
that result will be substantially advanced compared to today's
alkaline units. 

ElectroChem, Inc. of Woburn, Mass., and Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc.
of Hunt Valley, Md., each have delivered a breadboard
proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cell power generation system to
NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, to be independently tested by
NASA to verify performance, endurance and operational capabilities.
ElectroChem delivered a 1-kW PEM fuel cell generation system and
Teledyne, a 5-kW PEM fuel cell power generation system.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and
oxygen to produce electrical power, and its only by-product is water.
Alkaline fuel cells, a similar technology to PEM fuel cells, are the
primary source of electrical power on the Space Shuttle orbiter.
Although reliable, alkaline fuel cells are a costly and aging
technology. The advantages of PEM technology over alkaline technology
are numerous - higher power, lower weight, increased safety, longer
life, improved reliability, reduced operations and lower cost.
Although highly reliable, alkaline fuel cells have no large-scale
commercial applications. On the other hand, PEM technology is
actively being developed for future automotive and residential
applications.

"PEM fuel cells are leading the way, having emerged as the leading
fuel cell technology for near-term commercial applications," said
Mark Hoberecht, Glenn Fuel Cell Technology manager. "NASA recognizes
the valuable attributes  of PEM fuel cells, and is partnering with
commercial vendors to adapt this technology for future space
applications." 

The delivery of the breadboards is the end result of 16-month
contracts that were awarded to both vendors in December 2001 to
design, assemble and test breadboard power generation systems at the
1-5 kW power level. At the conclusion of the testing, one or both
vendors may be awarded optional contract tasks to design, assemble
and test engineering model PEM fuel cell generation systems as the
next step in developing this technology for future space-flight
missions. 

This is being done in support of NASA's Space Launch Initiative
(SLI), which is the key to open further the space frontier for
continued scientific exploration and economic expansion. The SLI
goals are to ensure the provision of space access and improve it by
increasing safety, reliability and affordability. The PEM fuel cell
development effort at Glenn is part of the Vehicle Systems Research
and Technology Project led by NASA's Langley Research Center,
Hampton, Va., under the Next Generation Launch Technology Program.

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