NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance continues to amaze us with its achievements. It recently set a new record by producing oxygen on the surface of Mars. This is a significant step forward in the exploration of the Red Planet and opens up new perspectives for future missions.
The science of oxygen production on Mars is an important aspect of research because it opens the door to future human habitation on the planet. Oxygen is not only necessary for breathing, but can also be used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel. Therefore, its production on Mars could significantly reduce the cost of delivering oxygen from Earth.
The first results of the experiment to produce oxygen on Mars have been published by the Perseverance rover team. They reported that in one hour the rover was able to produce 5 grams of oxygen, which is equivalent to the amount needed to inhale for 10 minutes. This set a new record for oxygen production on another planet.
NASA engineers have developed a special device called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE), which produces oxygen from carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere of Mars. MOXIE uses electrolysis, a process in which an electric current passes through a material and breaks it down into its component parts. Oxygen is released as a result of this process.
However, despite the impressive progress, scientists note that MOXIE is still operating in experimental mode and needs further improvement. They hope that with new technology and improvements, the production of oxygen on Mars will become more efficient and scalable.
Oxygen production on Mars has far-reaching implications for future missions to explore the Red Planet. It will allow astronauts to breathe and also create fuel to return to Earth. In addition, oxygen could be used to create liquid water, opening up possibilities for Mars colonization.
