Get closer than ever before with some of our science and space exploration learning center’s artifacts and exhibits in our video series, “History Up Close.” Today, we are exploring an Apollo 13 fuel cell.

Electricity for the Apollo Command Module was generated by fuel cells, like this one. A set of three fuel cells combined oxygen and hydrogen in the service module. The result of the chemical combining also created water.

During Apollo 13, the explosion in an oxygen tank drained the Service Module’s supply of oxygen, leaving the Command Module running only on limited battery power. The Apollo 13 crew was forced to take refuge in the Lunar Module.

Learn more about the historic Apollo 13 mission in our Apollo 13 virtual exhibit, presented by JSC Federal Credit Union.