What are fuel cells and how many are on the shuttle?
ANSWER from Jim Draus on May 15, 1997: There are three fuel cell power plants, they are located under the payload bay area in the forward portion of the orbiters mid-fuselage. The fuel cells operate as independent electrical power sources supplying its own isolated, simultaneously operating 28-volt dc bus. Each has a power section, where hydrogen and oxygen are transformed into electrical power, water and heat. For more information: Shuttle Reference Manual http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-eps.html#sts-fuel-cell Fuel Cells http://www.fuelcells.org/ Return to top.
