Fuel Cell, Apollo

The Apollo Command Module's primary source of electric power was from a set of three "fuel cells" housed in the Service Module. Each fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water. The water was used for drinking by the astronaut crew. Each of the fuel cell power plants contain 31 separate cells connected in series. Each cell has hydrogen and an oxygen compartments and electrodes, which in combination produce 27 to 31 volts. Normal power output for each power plant is 563 to 1420 watts, with a maximum of 2300 watts.

This particular fuel cell was installed in Service Module (SM) 102 during ground testing and operations conducted at the module's North American Aviation manufacturing site in California. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in September 1972. SM-102 was not flown.