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The first experiment to produce oxygen on another planet ended on Mars after surpassing NASA’s original goals and demonstrating capabilities that could help future astronauts explore the Red Planet.
A microwave-sized device called MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) is mounted on the Perseverance spacecraft.
of the experiment has begun That was more than two years ago, a few months after the rover landed on Mars. Since then, MOXIE has produced 122 grams of oxygen, equivalent to what a small dog breathes in her 10 hours. NASA. The device works by converting some of Mars’ abundant carbon dioxide into oxygen.
At peak efficiency, MOXIE produced 12 grams of oxygen per hour with more than 98% purity. This is double NASA’s goal for this device. On August 7, MOXIE conducted her 16th and final operation, meeting all requirements.
“We are proud to support breakthrough technologies like MOXIE that can transform local resources into products useful for future exploration missions,” said Trudy, Director of Technology Demonstration, NASA Headquarters Space Technology Mission Directorate.・Mr. Cortes said in a statement. “By proving this technology in real-world conditions, we move one step closer to a future where astronauts live ‘off the land’ on Mars.”
96% of Mars’ thin atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which is of little use to oxygen-breathing humans. MOXIE works by splitting a carbon dioxide molecule that contains one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. It separates oxygen molecules and releases carbon monoxide as a waste product. As the gas moves through the device, the system analyzes the purity and amount of oxygen.
Because the conversion process requires temperatures reaching 1,470 degrees Fahrenheit (798 degrees Celsius), heat-resistant materials such as gold and airgel coatings were used to manufacture the devices. These materials prevented heat from radiating to the outside and damaging all sides of the rover.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Engineers installed MOXIE inside the chassis of the Perseverance rover in 2019.
Anything that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide to oxygen can be useful in a number of ways. In the future, larger and improved versions of something like MOXIE could provide breathable air for life support systems and convert and store oxygen needed for rocket fuel to be launched on return to Earth. It will be like this.
“MOXIE’s impressive performance shows that it is possible to extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere,” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said in a statement. “It could be useful in providing rocket propellant.” “Developing technologies that can harness the resources of the Moon and Mars is critical to building a long-term lunar presence, building a strong lunar economy, and being able to support early human exploration campaigns to Mars. .”
Transporting thousands of pounds of rocket propellant and oxygen on the first trip from Earth to Mars would be incredibly difficult and expensive, leaving less space for the spacecraft to carry other essentials. Technologies such as MOXIE could help astronauts essentially live on land and utilize the resources around them.
Lessons learned from the small-scale MOXIE experiment can now be used to create a full-scale system, including an oxygen generator that can liquefy and store oxygen.
But the next major step in the process is testing other technologies on Mars that will enable further exploration, such as tools and habitat materials.
“We need to decide what kinds of things we need to test on Mars,” MOXIE Principal Investigator Michael Hecht of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in a statement. “I think there are a lot of technologies on that list. We’re very happy that MOXIE was first.”