NASA's Perseverance rover has managed to get oxygen from the atmosphere of Mars for the first time. This experiment was evaluated by the head of the Institute of Space Policy Ivan Moiseev.
The expert noted that such a study cannot be considered a scientific discovery. Rather, an experiment for the public.
This is primarily due to the fact that the method of producing oxygen on Mars is already known. It can be removed from soil or water.
– This is a demonstration experiment, the rover does not need oxygen. This is popularization. Just so that people are interested, – said Moiseev in an interview with the TV channel “360”.
Nevertheless, NASA is confident that the discovery has its own value. The new method will make it possible to provide astronauts with air in the future, and it may still be needed for refueling rockets.
Earlier it was reported that Perseverance got oxygen thanks to a small device – Mars Oxygen In-situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE). It was installed on a rover.
Later it became known about the first trip of the rover on the surface of Mars. The duration of his movement on the Red Planet was 33 minutes. In half an hour, the six-wheeled vehicle was able to overcome 6.5 meters.
