Teledyne and NASA advance hydrogen fuel cell technology

Key Takeaways

• Teledyne Energy Systems (TES) has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Glenn Research Center and Johnson Space Center.
• The partnership will push TES’s Hydrogen Electrical Power System (HEPS) from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 7 by the end of 2027.
• HEPS is a high‑efficiency, air‑independent hydrogen fuel‑cell that can deliver 5 kW continuous power at >30 % electrical efficiency in vacuum and extreme‑temperature conditions.
• The system is being positioned to power lunar habitat modules, surface‑mobility platforms, and deep‑space probes, complementing NASA’s solar‑array and radio‑isotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) roadmaps.

NASA‑TES Collaboration Overview

Space Act Agreement Objectives

• Joint Development: NASA’s Glenn and Johnson Centers will provide test chambers, vacuum‑thermal facilities, and systems‑engineering expertise.
• Milestone‑Driven Schedule:
  1. Pre‑validation (TRL 5 → 6): Component‑level testing in simulated lunar vacuum (10⁻⁶ torr) and temperature swings (‑150 °C to +120 °C).
  2. System‑level Demonstration (TRL 6 → 7): Full‑scale HEPS prototype operation for a minimum of 10,000 h in a space‑environment chamber.

Why Hydrogen Fuel Cells?

• Air‑Independent: Unlike solar panels, HEPS does not rely on sunlight, making it ideal for permanently shadowed craters or deep‑space missions beyond 1 AU.
• High Energy Density: Liquid hydrogen storage (≈ 8 MJ kg⁻¹) provides roughly 3× the specific energy of lithium‑ion batteries used on current ISS modules.
• Scalable Power: Modular stacks can be combined to reach 10 kW or more, supporting larger habitat or rover power budgets.

HEPS Technical Highlights

*Solar array figures represent state‑of‑the‑art multi‑junction cells used on the Lunar Gateway.

Mission Applications

Path to TRL 7

1. Component Validation (2024‑2025): Membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) tested for > 3,000 h durability; pressure‑vessel certification for liquid‑hydrogen tanks (ISO‑11119‑3).
2. Integrated Prototype (2025‑2026): 5 kW stack assembled, integrated with power‑management electronics (PME) and thermal‑control loops.
3. Environmental Demonstration (2026‑2027): Full‑system run in NASA’s Large Vacuum‑Thermal Test Facility (LVTTF) replicating lunar night (14 days, –173 °C).
4. Flight‑Ready Review (Late 2027): Independent NASA review to certify HEPS for inclusion in Artemis‑based lunar logistics missions.

Bottom Line

The NASA‑Teledyne partnership accelerates a hydrogen‑fuel‑cell power architecture that could become the workhorse for lunar outposts and deep‑space explorers. By moving HEPS from TRL 5 to TRL 7 within the next three years, the collaboration delivers a high‑specific‑power, air‑independent solution that outperforms both solar arrays and RTGs in mass, efficiency, and operational flexibility. If the scheduled milestones are met, HEPS will be ready for integration into Artemis‑derived missions, offering NASA a robust, low‑mass alternative for sustained human presence beyond Earth.