Two years after the Perseverance rover landed on Mars, NASA announced the success of an audacious experiment. MOXIE, a compact device onboard, converted Martian carbon dioxide into 122 grams of breathable oxygen. Initially met with skepticism due to its small size, the project has proven critics wrong, fueling optimism for future Mars missions.
Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
The device acts as a reverse fuel cell, using carbon dioxide to create oxygen and carbon monoxide. This milestone opens the door for incorporating oxygen-generating technology into future habitats for astronauts on Mars. NASA is now contemplating a more powerful version of MOXIE, capable of generating up to two kilograms of oxygen per hour, suitable for a small crew of astronauts.
