Honda agrees to provide fuel cell system to US space company

ISTANBUL

Honda has agreed to provide its regenerative fuel cell system to US space company Astrobotic Technology for developing a power solution for lunar surface missions.

Honda said in a statement on Monday that its system will be integrated into Astrobotic's solar-powered system to continuously provide power, even during prolonged periods of darkness on the Moon.

Honda’s regenerative fuel cell system can store solar power as hydrogen during lunar daylight and convert it to electricity during the lunar night, the period of darkness that lasts about 14 Earth days.

Derek Adelman, chief engineer at American Honda Motor's Space Development Division, said the collaboration “marks a pivotal step toward creating scalable power solutions for long-term lunar surface missions.”

“Powered by core Honda technologies, our regenerative fuel cell system is designed to provide efficient energy storage and regeneration to support sustained human life on the Moon as well as advance zero-emission applications on Earth,” Derek added.

Bobby Rolley, Astrobotic's lunar power systems architect, said the partnership is a "major move" toward its vision of enabling "survival through the harsh lunar night and extending mission durations from days to years."

Established in 2007 in Pittsburgh, Astrobotic has been contracted for two lunar missions. Honda Motor, which produces hydrogen-powered vehicles, established the Space Development Division at the American unit in late 2024.