When the first astronauts set foot on Mars, they may owe a debt of gratitude to a microwave-oven-sized device called MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment). MOXIE has successfully generated oxygen for the 16th and final time aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover, surpassing expectations and proving its potential to extract oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere.
This breakthrough in oxygen extraction could play a vital role in supporting future Mars missions, providing astronauts with breathable air and rocket propellant. NASA sees the development of technologies like MOXIE as crucial for establishing a long-term lunar presence, creating a robust lunar economy, and preparing for human exploration of Mars.
Since its landing on Mars in 2021, MOXIE has produced a total of 122 grams of oxygen, roughly equivalent to what a small dog breathes in 10 hours. At its peak efficiency, MOXIE could generate 12 grams of oxygen per hour, surpassing NASA’s original goals for the instrument. MOXIE successfully completed all of its technical requirements and operated under various conditions throughout a full Martian year.
MOXIE operates by using an electrochemical process to separate oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide in Mars’ thin atmosphere. This oxygen production system has significant implications for future Mars missions, particularly as a source of rocket propellant, reducing the need to transport large quantities of oxygen from Earth.
NASA’s MOXIE demonstration represents a crucial step toward human survival on Mars and the concept of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), where astronauts use locally available materials to support their missions. While MOXIE has shown its potential, NASA envisions creating a full-scale system that includes an oxygen generator and a means to liquefy and store oxygen on Mars.
MOXIE has not only advanced the field of ISRU but also inspired future research and investment in space resources. NASA’s Perseverance rover continues to explore Mars, with a focus on astrobiology and the search for signs of ancient microbial life.
As humanity sets its sights on Mars, innovative technologies like MOXIE are key to making future missions safer and more sustainable, allowing astronauts to “live off the land” on the Red Planet.
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