Do you know Moxie? Before you pull out your Pokédex and search all the chests on Bill’s PC: No, it’s not a pocket monster. Moxie one cube shaped NASA machinewho is currently spending a semester abroad on Mars and, along with the persistent rover, ensures that we won’t have to do without our beloved oxygen on the Red Planet in the future either.
In a recent article in the journal Science, science progress The people involved in the project explained in more detail how exactly Moxie (Mars oxygen in the experience of using site resources
) Works.
There is no party on Mars without oxygen
Why all this effort at all? The answer to this question should be obvious, but of course we also have hard facts ready: the atmosphere of Mars Only about 0.2% oxygen, roughly the same as an S-Bahn in rush hour traffic. Vinegar is easy to inhale and this puts a wrench in the works for ambitious human expansion plans.
But it’s not just about breathing. NASA has been planning the mission for a while Mars sample return
, where a rocket is launched – but not on Earth, but on Mars. And what does a rocket engine need to ignite successfully? You can guess: oxygen.
Moxie aims to solve all these problems by using the resources available on Mars to produce oxygen from it. That would be amazing in itself, but the choice of chemical compound that Moxie uses makes the entire endeavor even more impressive: carbon dioxide.
Moxie is small in size but has a great purpose. (Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
reverse breathing
Carbon dioxide on Mars can only laugh out loud at the previously mentioned 0.2% oxygen. Because this gas is abundant on the surface of Mars. This makes her the perfect candidate for Project Moxie.
And successfully: According to researchers, Moxie . has lost Already successfully completed seven exams It produces oxygen day and night. Six grams per hour to be exact. Of course, this is not enough to feed humans on Mars. However, the Moxie still had to be compact and not consume much power in order to be transported by the Mars rover.
According to engineers, a larger type of Moxie can operate continuously and thus produce more oxygen.
The inconspicuous box has a lot to offer. (Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Converting carbon dioxide to oxygen can be called in layman’s terms reverse breathing
Describe. As is well known, during the basic independent function of our body, oxygen is consumed in cells, resulting in carbon dioxide as a waste product. So Moxie turns the tables quickly.
The reactions of people who probably deal with such topics on a daily basis also show how well Moxie can be evaluated. Jeffrey Hoffman For example, who conducts research at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology:
This is the first demonstration of how to use resources on the surface of another planet to chemically transform them into something useful for human expeditions. In this regard, this is a historic moment.
Are you now full of sci-fi fever after reading this letter? Then let’s see other exciting stories that our GameStar store has to offer. Ah yes, how about this:
Life on Mars – an interesting prospect for you, or will no oxygen in the world make you leave Earth? Fire up your imagination machine and let us know if you’re headed to the stars or not, we’re excited!
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