NASA's MOXIE could make breathing on Mars a reality. The space agency's new invention can obtain oxygen on Mars: it can be a major turning point for future explorations on the red planet.
Mars' atmosphere makes breathing impossible: it is just 1% as dense as that on Earth. Not a good start for colony projects on the red planet, among those drawn from independent groups (complete with cities) to that which Elon Musk is working on.
What if it was possible to somehow obtain oxygen on Mars?
The importance of being called MOXIE
“What breathes most on a mission to Mars? Not the people,” he says Michael Hecht, Principle Investigator of the NASA MOXIE project. And what, then? We wonder. The answer comes promptly: “It's the rocket that will take you home from Mars”. Quite right.
This is why NASA's MOXIE (which I have introduced you for the first time last December) will be essential once completed. Astronauts traveling to Mars have difficulty getting about 25 tons of oxygen to Mars from Earth. Also because, apart from this, the space crew also needs almost 7 tons of fuel.
How does MOXIE get oxygen on Mars?
First, introductions: good evening, my name is MOXIE, and I was developed by MIT. The acronym, very simple, comes from “MARS OXIGEN IN SITU“. Oxygen on Mars. They are essentially a specialized reverse fuel cell that primarily consumes electricity to produce oxygen on Mars. NASA explained that I use a method called solid oxide electrolysis, and that's actually what I do.
In the image you see above, provided by NASA, the Perseverance rover fires its descent stage engines as it approaches the Martian surface to land in the area known as Jezero Crater on Mars. A key focus for Perseverance's mission to Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life.
During the first phase, MOXIE will filter and pump Martian carbon dioxide into a compressor. The compressor will do what it's supposed to: it will compress the air to Earth's sea level pressures. Next, NASA equipment will send the compressed carbon dioxide to the 10-cell solid oxide electrolysis stack. Result? Oxygen on Mars.
The core of MOXIE: the electrolysis stack
Asad Aboobaker, MOXIE project collaborator and instrument systems engineer, explains that MOXIE's electrolysis system is key to turning Mars air into oxygen. MOXIE's electrolysis stack consists of various specialized metal-ceramic cells. They conduct electricity using oxygen ions when the equipment is heated to high temperatures. Aboobaker explained that an applied voltage allows MOXIE to selectively drive oxygen ions. After this process, oxygen will be generated.
