"NASA admits it doesn't know much about the inner workings

[dolo amber]

of the fuel cell, which is what is delaying the shuttle launch."

I just heard this on my local news. One question:

Shouldn't NASA like...know much about the inner workings of the fuel cell?

[ThomCat]

1. You would think.

If I was paying that much money for a vehicle with a history of saftey problems that absolutely cannot be allowed to break down in any small way you can be Damned sure that I'd have engineers explaining every little thing to me.

[dolo amber]

2. Exactly!

There wouldn't be a Ritz cracker on board I didn't have the specs for. :shrug:

[billyskank]

3. But this is NASA under the Bush administration

they're operating on a budget of about $10,000, which is all the government can afford after all the tax cuts and the military spending is accounted for.

:hi:

[anarch]

4. maybe they should consult one of those "how things work" references

The way I understand it,

The hydrogen fuel cell operates similar to a battery. It has two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, separated by a membrane. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other.
The hydrogen reacts to a catalyst on the electrode anode that converts the hydrogen gas into negatively charged electrons (e-) and positively charged ions (H+).

The electrons flow out of the cell to be used as electrical energy. The hydrogen ions move through the electrolyte membrane to the cathode electrode where they combine with oxygen and the electrons to produce water. Unlike batteries, fuel cells never run out.

[dolo amber]

6. I guess you're also a brain surgeon

:eyes:


:D

[anarch]

7. no...but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night

:D

[MissB]

9. That one never gets old.

:rofl:

[SOteric]

10. Get him a manual.

Maybe he can install one for Dubya. :7

[Cannikin]

5. Whats to know?

In the archetypal example of a hydrogen/oxygen proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a proton-conducting polymer membrane, (the electrolyte), separates the anode and cathode sides.

On the anode side, hydrogen diffuses to the anode catalyst where it dissociates into protons and electrons. The protons are conducted through the membrane to the cathode, but the electrons are forced to travel in an external circuit (supplying power) because the membrane is electrically insulating. On the cathode catalyst, oxygen molecules react with the electrons (which have traveled through the external circuit) and protons to form water. In this example, the only waste product is water vapor and/or liquid water.

[LaraMN]

8. YEAH! And they didn't invent velcro, either!ll111!

Stupid posers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro

[Juffo Wup]

11. Have any of you ever tried to explain something to a government bureacrat?

I do every day. They're idiots who only want to hear that which satisfies their preconceived notions. "Fuel cells are like batteries" would be far too complex for them.

[terrya]

12. This is...more than a little scary.

Hell, I don't know anything about the inner workings of the fuel cell...but I'm not launching a space shuttle into orbit.

[mainegreen]

13. Perhaps if they stopped firing scientist and replacing them with

Bushbots?

[Richardo]

14. "I think we spilled all the hydrogens out on accident."

:eyes:

[Richardo]

16. This was funny.

Dammit!

[tigereye]

15. I think there are some things that they contract out

maybe that's it....

actually, make that many things....

[XNASA]

17. It's not a Hydrogen Fuel Cell problem.

It's a problem with a sensor in the external fuel cell.

You know. The big orange thingy.

There are several sensors in the external fuel tank and only one of them is acting up.

Jeesh. :eyes: