Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is one of three fuel cell power plants that produced electrical power for a space shuttle orbiter. They were located under the payload bay floor in the mid-fuselage behind the crew compartment. The fuel cell transformed hydrogen and oxygen into electricity in the top (power) section, and the accessory section at the bottom monitored the chemical reaction and temperature of the unit and also removed heat and water produced by the process. The water was stored in tanks for use by the onboard environmental control and life support system and the crew.

NASA transferred this extra orbiter fuel cell to the Museum in 2012 when the space shuttle program ended. Three other fuel cells remain installed inside the orbiter Discovery, on display at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type EQUIPMENT-Power Sources Manufacturer UTC Power
 Dimensions Approximate (Fuel Cell): 40.6 × 40.6 × 123.2cm (1 ft. 4 in. × 1 ft. 4 in. × 4 ft. 1/2 in.)
3-D (Barrel): 120.6 × 174cm (3 ft. 11 1/2 in. × 5 ft. 8 1/2 in.)
Approximate (Barrel, Printed on Container): 603.3kg (1330lb.)
Approximate (Fuel Cell): 35.6 × 38.1 × 101.6 × 30.5cm, 115.7kg (1 ft. 2 in. × 1 ft. 3 in. × 3 ft. 4 in. × 1 ft., 255lb.)
 Materials HAZMAT: Cadmium Plating
Unknown Contents (May Contain Freon 21 and Potassium Hydroxide)
Ferrous Alloy
Wood
Paint
Plastic
Uncharacterized Foam
Adhesive Tape
Rubber
Paper
Ink
Glass
Adhesive
 Inventory Number A20181719000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.