Seems somehow ironic or just plain wrong.

[moonmadness]

Hydrogen fuels cells were I believe created for the early U.S. space program including Apollo.<br /><br />A while back the government announced that fuel cells are the tech of the future(1 billion dollar budget proposal) and would help bring it to be so.<br /><br />Then the government announced its 'Apollo on steroids' program.<br /><br /> And the one very obvious change in the design?<br /><br />Solar panels!<br /><br />no fuel cells on the CEV? Whats up with that? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>I'm not a rocket scientist, but I do play one on the TV in my mind.</p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Solar cell technology (and their efficiency) has improved a great deal since the sixties. Fuel cells started out pretty efficient, solar cells caught up due to much hardwork from the semi-conductor industry.<br /><br />Sorry, no conspiracy, just the advance of materials science.<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[pyoko]

Please read below link for the latest toshiba cellphone powered on a fuel cell power source.<br /><br />http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/07/toshiba_demos_cellphone_fuel_cell/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="color:#ff9900" class="Apple-style-span">-pyoko</span> <span style="color:#333333" class="Apple-style-span">the</span> <span style="color:#339966" class="Apple-style-span">duck </span></p><p><span style="color:#339966" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color:#808080;font-style:italic" class="Apple-style-span">It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.</span></span></p> </div>

 

[cuddlyrocket]

Fuel cells provide high power outputs for their mass, but because they need a constant supply of fuel they are best used on relatively short missions where mass is a limiting factor. Hence their use on Apollo missions where every kg counted but that lasted, at most, weeks.<br /><br />Solar cells are relatively heavy for their power output, but have essentially unlimited 'fuel' so are best for long duration missions, hence their use on satellites, the ISS and interplanetary probes.<br /><br />The CEV is intended to be used on missions to the Moon that, ultimately, will last months. And as the fall-back for ISS missions, where it will need to be docked for six months at a time. Hence the solar cells. (The Shuttle has fuel cells, which is why it can only stay at the ISS for 18 days. The Soyuz has solar cells - a much less capable craft, but one that stays at the ISS for six months at a time.)<br /><br />By the way, fuel cells are a British invention that were designed in 1843 with practical devices developed in the 1930s.