Current and Future Roles of Electrochemistry in Space

Abstract

One needs only be a reasonably astute observer of Hollywood’s depiction of space travel to assess that electrochemical systems play a critical role in space systems operation. Ron Howard’s relatively accurate retelling of the Apollo 13 mission reminded his audience that the dramatic rupture of the spacecraft’s second O2 tank impaired the electrical power system, which ran on three H2-O2 alkaline fuel cells that also provided water for the crew. Thankfully, the tank rupture only disabled two of the three fuel cells. The remaining fuel cell enabled a historic on-the-fly engineering response that relied on the remaining fuel cell and was worthy of a movie reminder one quarter of a century later.