Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Utilization Experiment MOXIE produced 5 grams of oxygen
NASA’s Perseverance Rover continues to make history. The six-wheeled robot converted carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen, which happened for the first time on another planet, the space agency said on Wednesday.
“This is a critical first step in converting carbon dioxide in Mars to oxygen,” said Jim Reuter, co-administrator of NASA’s space technology mission board.
The technology demonstration took place on April 20 and it is hoped that future versions of the experimental tool used could pave the way for future human exploration.
Not only can the process produce oxygen for future astronauts to breathe, but it can make unnecessary transport of large amounts of oxygen from the earth to use as rocket fuel for the return journey.
The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment – or MOXIE – is a gold box the size of a car battery and is located on the right side of the car.
It is called a ‘mechanical tree’, and uses electricity and chemistry to break down carbon dioxide molecules, which consist of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
It also produces carbon monoxide as a by-product.
In the first series, MOXIE produced 5 grams of oxygen, which was equivalent to about 10 minutes of breathing for an astronaut who performed normal activities.
MOXIE’s engineers will now carry out more tests and try to increase production. It is designed to generate up to 10 grams of oxygen per hour.
Designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MOXIE is built with heat-resistant materials such as nickel alloy and designed to withstand the burning temperatures of 1,470 degrees Fahrenheit (800 Celsius) needed to walk.
A thin gold layer ensures that it does not radiate its heat and does not damage the rover.
MIT engineer Michael Hecht said a ton version of MOXIE could provide the approximately 25,000 pounds of oxygen needed for a rocket to blow off Mars.
Producing oxygen from Mars’ 96 percent carbon dioxide atmosphere is perhaps a more feasible option than extracting ice below the surface and then electrolyzing it to make oxygen.
Perseverance landed on the Red Planet on February 18 on a mission to search for signs of microbial life.
Its mini-helicopter Ingenuity made history this week by reaching the first powered flight on another planet.
The rover itself also recorded the sounds of Mars directly for the first time.
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