A device aboard the Martian rover Perseverance was able to extract oxygen from a predominantly carbon dioxide atmosphere on Mars.
This is the second successful test of new technologies during the current Mars mission: earlier on Monday, a mini-helicopter was launched into the planet's atmosphere.
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The oxygen was produced by a toaster-sized appliance called the Moxie (stands for “Local Natural Resources Experiment”).
They received 5 grams of oxygen – enough for the astronaut to breathe for about 10 minutes.
NASA plans to use enlarged versions of Moxies during manned missions instead of carrying oxygen supplies with them from Earth.
In addition, oxygen (O₂) is an essential part of the fuel that rockets run on. The thrust force in them is created due to the combustion of fuel in the presence of an oxidizing agent, which can be pure oxygen.
The atmosphere of Mars is 96% carbon dioxide (CO₂), the oxygen content there does not exceed 0.13%, while on Earth its concentration is 21%.
The Moxie breaks down CO₂ molecules into their constituent oxygen atoms, with carbon monoxide as a byproduct, which is released back into the Martian atmosphere.
NASA is currently testing the Moxie in various modes to determine its reliability and effectiveness.
The device is expected to be able to produce up to 10 grams of oxygen per hour.
“Moxie is not just a new oxygen generator on another planet, it is the first technology of its kind to help future missions” graze, “or recycle local resources,” said Trudy Cortez, director of NASA's technology demonstrations.
It could be regolith, a material that can be found on the surface and, if properly processed, used as a building material, or carbon dioxide, which is extracted from the atmosphere and converted to oxygen, she said.
Meanwhile, new tests of the Ingenuity drone are scheduled for Thursday. This week the mini-helicopter made its first controlled flight in another world.
This time, it is planned to raise the drone to a height of 5 meters, make horizontal movements by 2 meters, circle in the atmosphere and take a few pictures, and then return it to the base.
