Honda will test fuel cells on the International Space Station

Honda RD has announced plans to test its high differential pressure water electrolysis system in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS).

Here's What We Know

For a future experiment on the ISS, Honda is partnering with space and technology companies Sierra Space and Tec-Masters. The former will become a space mission integrator, working with NASA to transport materials on the Dream Chaser spacecraft. Tec-Masters will become the ISS technology expert.

The project is part of Honda's vision for a regenerative fuel cell system that could provide energy storage to sustain human life on the surface of the moon. Such a system is expected to continuously produce oxygen, hydrogen and electricity using available resources of sunlight and water.

The timing of the experiments has not been reported. One factor in the uncertainty is the Dream Chaser spacecraft, whose launch into space has been continually delayed. On 10 March, Erik Daehler, vice president of Sierra Space, said at the Satellite 2025 conference that the first flight should take place this year.

How will it work on the Moon?

During Lunar Day, the Honda system will use electricity generated by the sun to power the process. A high differential pressure water electrolysis system will then produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.

During the Lunar Night, when sunlight is unavailable, some of the oxygen will be used for the astronauts to breathe. Honda's fuel cell system will use the remaining oxygen, along with the hydrogen produced during Lunar Day, to generate electricity.

As with the Honda Clarity FCV, the only byproduct of fuel cell power generation is water. The clean liquid is fed back into the electrolysis system to create a closed energy cycle. This process is similar to how a home solar system works on Earth, where daytime solar electricity is used and excess energy is stored in home energy batteries to provide power during the night.

Honda expects the circulating renewable energy system to become part of the infrastructure for sustainable human habitation on Earth's only natural satellite.

Source: Honda