NASA's interest in fuel cells dates back to the 1960s when the agency needed efficient power sources for missions to the Moon. Fuel cells, which generate electricity and heat by bonding hydrogen and oxygen, were chosen for their energy efficiency per pound over batteries. NASA funded companies like Pratt & Whitney to develop prototypes, leading to the birth of UTC Power, now known as HyAxiom Inc. The company, operating from Connecticut, released its first commercial fuel cell in the 1990s and has since expanded its product line. Today, HyAxiom produces around 120 units annually and anticipates growth with increasing government support for fuel cells. Government plans to utilize fuel cells for storing renewable energy, a concept influenced by NASA's own use of fuel cells. Commercial fuel cell companies owe a significant portion of their success to NASA's early investments, with intellectual property and corporate heritage tracing back to those initial NASA-funded companies in the 1960s.