NASA's Mars rover "Perseverance" extracts oxygen from Martian atmosphere using an experimental instrument MOXIE.
Dhaliya Nazreen
MOXIE Lowered into Rover | credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA achieved yet another 'first' in its extra-terrestrial mission to Mars. NASA successfully converted Carbon dioxide rich thin air of the red planet into Oxygen using an experimental instrument called Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment (MOXIE). Since the technology is buoyant, it paved a way for a science fiction to become a science fact.
MOXIE is a 6 wheeled toaster sized experimental instrument that landed on Mars on February 18, after 7 months of journey from the Earth. After MOXIE returned to Earth, test and researches take place in the specimens brought by MOXIE in April 20, which is a huge step in Mars Expeditions. Isolating and Storing Oxygen helps to power rockets that could lift astronauts off the planet surface.
NASA is pretty much optimistic that one day these instruments can provide breathable air for astronauts!
MOXIE produced about 5 g of Oxygen that is the Oxygen required to breathe for an astronaut for roughly 10 minutes. Even though the initial output was meagre, this is a remarkable manoeuvre for NASA - First Experimental Extraction of natural resources from environment of another planet which can be directly utilised by human.
This is a critical first step at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen on Mars.MOXIE has more work to do, but the results from this technology demonstration are full of promise as we move toward our goal of one day seeing humans on Mars. Oxygen isn’t just the stuff we breathe. Rocket propellant depends on oxygen and future explorers will depend on producing propellant on Mars to make the trip home.- Jim Reuter, Associate Administrator for STMD
A rocket must have more Oxygen by its weight in order to burn its fuel. For example 4 astronauts who lands on a Martian Surface requires only 15,000 pounds (7 metric tons) of rocket fuel but it requires 55000 pounds (25 metric tons) of Oxygen. In contrast, astronauts who are living and working requires far lesser Oxygen to breathe.
The astronauts who spend a year on the surface will use one metric ton between them.- Michael Hecht, Member of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
It is really a strenuous effort to carry 25 metric tons of Oxygen from Earth to Mars. Transporting a one-ton Oxygen Convertor, which is the more powerful descendent of MOXIE will be great profitable and practical as it can produce those 25 tons in Mars!
MOXIE unit is made of highly heat tolerant material, which include 3D Printed Nickel Alloy parts which can heat and cools the gas flowing through it. A light weighed Aerogel to provide heat insulation. A thin gold coating outside MOXIE reflects infrared heat, to prevent radiation to go outside and gradually damaging the parts of Perseverance. The prime objective of Perseverance is to study Astrobiology, which includes the signs of ancient microbial life in Mars. The rover will characterize the geology and past climate of the planet, thereby setting a way for human exploration to the Red Planet.
How do MOXIE works?
MOXIE is a toaster sized instrument that performs electrolysis by using extreme heat to separate Oxygen atoms from Carbon dioxide. MOXIE converts Carbon dioxide of the atmosphere into one Carbon and two Oxygen atom and waste product carbon monoxide which is generated is emitted into the atmosphere of Mars. In order to convert this, high level of operating temperature - approximately 1470 F (800 degree Celsius) is required. The atmosphere of Mars has an abundant amount of Carbon dioxide (about 96%) and have only a trace amount of Oxygen.
Oxygen production consists of 3 phases:
In the first phase, will check out and characterizes instrument functions while in second phase the instrument is run in various conditions like different days and seasons. In the third phase, Michael Hecht, member of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) member said," We’ll push the envelope” – trying new operating modes, or introducing “new wrinkles, such as a run where we compare operations at three or more different temperatures”.
This technology demonstration was designed to make sure that the instrument survived the launch from Earth which was nearly a seven-month journey through deep space, and touchdown with Perseverance on Feb 18. Over the course of a Martian year, which is nearly two years on Earth, they are expecting MOXIE to extract oxygen at least nine more times. If MOXIE meets the expectations of NASA this technology can be utilised for supplying Oxygen to future Mars explorers to breathe as well as a major proponent of rocket fuel that is required to return Earth.