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Aalice.157 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!research!alice!sjb Thu Nov 12 20:16:48 1981 fuel cells Here is the word on the fuel cells.

The membrane that separates the oxygen and hydrogen (that react to produce electricity and water) in one of them (there are three) started to fail. If it went completely, the two would have mixed and would have been potentially explosive. To avoid that, NASA ordered that cell to be shut down and the oxygen and hydrogen purged. This means that it cannot be reactivated during this mission. The shuttle can fly fine on two fuel cells, but NASA cut the mission to 54 hours anyway. There is still no word on the activities planned prior to landing.

These three fuel cells were not the ones that flew on STS-1 in April. They are newer, more ``technologically advanced [supposedly]'' than those in April's flight.

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