Fuel cells which convert the chemical energy of a cell directly into electricity were discovered but remained a scientific curiosity until Bacon, adopting the approach of a creative engineer, developed a viable power source which provided the electrical power for the Apollo spacecraft on man's first journey to the moon.
After Cambridge in 1925, Bacon was an apprentice with C.A. Parsons Ltd. in Newcastle. He was related to and greatly influenced by Parsons (q.v.), whom he described as: 'A marvellous man with the great quality of always keeping an open mind.' Bacon's original fuel cell experiments were carried on in secret at Parsons, but when he was discovered he was told either to stop them as not being relevant to the business, or to leave. He left.
Unlike most inventors he had private means. This enabled him to pursue throughout his life his aim of producing power without pollution. One of his first supporters was Charles Merz (q.v.) of Newcastle. At length, after little interest was shown by UK industry, Pratt and Whitney in the USA developed a highly efficient power source for the Apollo mission, the exhaust providing drinking water for the astronauts.
After the success of the space mission, Bacon was highly honoured and invited to meet the spacemen at 10 Downing Street. On a visit Bacon made to the United States, President Nixon put his arm round his shoulders and said: 'Without you Tom, we wouldn't have gotten to the moon.'