Experts at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland have begun testing a Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) system designed to power lunar bases. This car-sized device operates on a continuous cycle: it converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, heat, and water. When excess energy is available, the system splits the water back into gases for storage. This is reported by Ixbt.com .
This technology is critical for the Artemis program. It ensures the continuous operation of bases during the dark and cold nights on the Moon, which can last up to 14 Earth days. Lead project engineer Kerrigan Kane notes that the system is lighter and significantly more energy-efficient than traditional batteries.
The system's main advantage is its full autonomy. This drastically reduces logistics costs from Earth, as hydrogen and oxygen reserves are reused. Consisting of over 270 sensors and a thousand components, the device can be operated remotely without human intervention.
Current tests are the result of five years of work. While previous stages involved testing individual parts, the system is now being tested in a full cycle, including high-pressure gas storage. In the future, the device will be adapted to the Moon's extreme conditions in vacuum chambers.
This energy system will serve not only to light and heat habitat modules but also to power lunar rovers. Experts believe this technology will provide a solid foundation for future long-term expeditions to Mars.
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