'But dumb old oxygen? If you can make it there, go for it — you’re way ahead of the game.'
with MIT researchers, NASA scientists found that even when subjected to different seasons, times of day, and atmospheric conditions, the lunchbox-sized MOXIE was able to produce six grams of oxygen per hour — the equivalent of a small tree.
That’s an impressive output for such a modest machine. Sure, MOXIE technology won’t be terraforming Mars anytime soon, but a reasonable scale-up could be enough to sustain a crew's habitat.MOXIE could also help refuel rockets, which require massive amounts of oxygen, for return missions. The less oxygen needed to be transported, and the more that can be made on the spot, the better. The Space Shuttle, as an example, carried some 1.
"To support a human mission to Mars, we have to bring a lot of stuff from Earth, like computers, spacesuits, and habitats," said MIT researcher and study coauthor Jeffrey Hoffman. "But dumb old oxygen? If you can make it there, go for it — you’re way ahead of the game." The researchers say the next step is ensuring MOXIE can run round the clock. Until now, it's only been running at intervals for a few hundred hours total, but a scaled up version will need to run continuously for thousands of hours.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MOXIE Experiment Successfully Making Oxygen on MarsDay and night, and across seasons, the instrument reliably generates breathable oxygen from the Red Planet’s thin atmosphere. Nearly 100 million miles from Earth, on the red and dusty surface of Mars, an instrument the size of a lunchbox is proving it can reliably do the work of a small tree.
Read more »
NASA made enough oxygen on Mars to last an astronaut for 100 minutesNASA’s MOXIE experiment on Mars has produced about 100 minutes’ worth of breathable oxygen, raising hopes for future crewed missions
Read more »
People Over 30 Are Sharing Advice They Wish They'd Known In Their 20s'People are temporary. You'll be shocked at how many of them just come and go. It doesn't matter how much you try to work for that connection. Once you have nothing left to give (or they've taken all that they can), they will move on. This applies to both romantic partners and friends.'
Read more »
Fabulous 230-million-year-old fossil is Africa’s oldest known dinosaurThe newfound fossil also belongs to one of the earliest known ancestors to sauropods, the group that includes iconic long-necked giants such as Brachiosaurus and Brontosaurus
Read more »
New Eagles DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson already making his presence known in his first practiceNew Eagles defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson flashed his closeout speed and athleticism on his first day as an Eagle.
Read more »
Well-known rock climber charged with sexual assault in YosemiteCharles Barrett, 38, was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact, according to federal prosecutors.
Read more »