Can the Antares run on Fuel cells instead of on Batteries?
The Fuel cell is an interesting technology. Sadly, current fuel cell technology is not capable of delivering the high power required for takeoff and climb. One could imagine a system where batteries provide most of the power for take-off and climb while a fuel cell system slowly recharges the batteries during unpowered flight. However, assuming we maintain system weight, this would mean a reduction in number of batteries and thus a substantial reduction in instantly available altitude. It would also mean a dramatic increase in system price and complexity. As a result, we do not see the application of fuel cells in series aircraft in the near future. However, we continue to monitor this technology closely.
