The Unsung Hero Who Powered the Moon Landing

Nearly 70 years ago, Francis Thomas Bacon, a Cambridge-based engineer known as Tom, achieved a feat that changed history. He invented the first working hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, a revolutionary technology that would power the Apollo 11 moon landing. Today, a charity called Cambridge Past, Present & Future is working to shed light on Bacon’s remarkable achievements by honoring him with a blue plaque at his former home in Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire.

Bacon Cells: A Source of Clean, Sustainable Energy

Bacon’s fuel cells, affectionately nicknamed “Bacon Cells” by NASA, provided essential secondary power for the Apollo missions. These ingenious devices generated electricity for communication systems, air conditioning, lighting, and even produced water for the astronauts.

“Normally, in the course of time, a battery runs down and you’ve got to recharge it,” Bacon explained to BBC Radio 4 shortly before the moon landings in 1969. “Now, [with] this device, as long as you go on feeding hydrogen and oxygen into it, and you remove the water formed, it will go on generating power indefinitely – and the astronauts drink the water.”

The fuel cells’ efficiency and energy density played a crucial role in the Apollo missions’ success. President Richard Nixon famously told Bacon, “Without you, Tom, we wouldn’t have gotten to the moon.”

A Legacy That Continues to Inspire Today

Professor Sam Stranks, an energy materials and optoelectronics expert at Cambridge University, calls Bacon “a pioneer” whose invention continues to inspire scientists. Today, fuel cells remain a promising technology for sustainable energy solutions, particularly as potential sources of green electricity and emergency power, especially in remote locations.

“Obviously, there’s no easy means to get electricity there,” Stranks explains, highlighting the vital role Bacon’s invention played in enabling space exploration.

Bacon’s vision extended beyond space. “I always hoped it would be used for driving vehicles about,” he envisioned. Stranks believes that Bacon’s fuel cell technology could pave the way for powering electric engines in trucks and ships, avoiding the limitations of heavy and impractical rechargeable batteries.

Professor Clemens Kaminski, head of Cambridge University’s chemical engineering department, recognizes Bacon as an unsung hero, adding, “His delight was solving problems and coming up with real solutions for the benefit of society.” Although Bacon remained modest about his achievements, his work left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire innovation.

While Bacon passed away in 1992, his invention’s impact continues to reverberate. His story reminds us that groundbreaking innovation often comes from quiet individuals who dedicate themselves to solving complex problems.

Join Cambridge Past, Present & Future in honoring Francis Thomas Bacon’s incredible contributions. Learn more about this unsung hero of the space age and discover the lasting impact of his innovative fuel cell technology.