Teledyne, NASA to advance lunar hydrogen fuel-cell power system

(SpaceEnergy) Teledyne Energy Systems has been selected for a NASA collaboration to mature its hydrogen fuel-cell power system for lunar and deep-space applications from technology readiness level five to seven.

Under a Space Act Agreement, Teledyne will work with NASA's Glenn Research Center and Johnson Space Center to advance the Hydrogen Electrical Power System, or HEPS, and validate its performance in relevant space environments.

HEPS is an air-independent system that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and water. It is being developed to provide scalable power for applications including lunar habitats and surface infrastructure, particularly during periods when solar power is unavailable.

The new collaboration follows flight testing that included two reduced-gravity campaigns in 2022 and a September 2025 flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard. NASA said the earlier programme demonstrated system operation in microgravity and space environments and generated data supporting further development for lunar and Mars infrastructure.

“Advancing HEPS to a higher technology readiness level will further demonstrate its potential to provide reliable, scalable energy for future exploration architectures and long-duration surface operations,” Teledyne Energy Systems vice-president and general manager Barbara Stachowiak said.

Teledyne said NASA Glenn and NASA Johnson will provide technical expertise and facilities as the system progresses towards TRL 7, which would represent demonstration of a system prototype in an operational environment.

The company did not disclose the value or duration of the Space Act Agreement.