The Apollo space program relied on hydrogen fuel cells, which work by stripping electrons from hydrogen atoms.

FORBES: Mr. Burns' Dilemma

Dramatic erosion of public interest began soon after presidential and congressional politics turned the Apollo space program into a jobs program.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Apollo's successor, the Space Shuttle program, failed to capture America's imagination, or attention, except in 1986, when Challenger blew up, killing seven, and in 2003, when Columbia disintegrated on reentry, killing another seven.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The space shuttle program cost more and was less safe than the Apollo missions that preceded it.

FORBES: What Bygone Absurdities Can Tell Us About Our Future

The problem NASA has faced is that since the Eagle landed on the moon and Apollo 11 returned safely to the earth the American people lost interest in our manned space program.

FORBES: Who Says America Is Falling Behind In The Space Race?