NASA's MOXIE Sets New Oxygen Production Record, Fueling Hopes for Future Missions

Enclosed within NASA's Perseverance Mars rover lies the Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE). The compact device is the first experiment to take in Mars' tenuous, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and convert it into breathable oxygen.

This compact device holds the potential to be utilized on a larger scale, serving not only as a source of air for astronauts on Mars but also as a means to generate rocket propellant. In a recent development, researchers accomplished a significant breakthrough as they elevated MOXIE's production capacity to a level twice as high as previously achieved.

MOXIE Doubles Its Oxygen Production

Space.com reported that NASA's MOXIE experiment accomplished a significant breakthrough by doubling its previous production level, marking a major milestone. Michael Hecht, MOXIE's principal investigator from MIT's Haystack Observatory, expressed satisfaction with the results of the riskiest run thus far.

Conducted on June 6 during the Martian night, the operation lasted 58 minutes without any damage to the instrument, defying potential setbacks. The original goal of producing 6 grams of oxygen per hour was surpassed by taking a chance and increasing the production rate.

Referred to affectionately as "the last hurrah" by Hecht and his team, MOXIE successfully completed its 15th run on Mars, commencing its oxygen extraction journey in Jezero Crater on April 20, 2021.

Throughout the mission, the focus has been on enhancing operational efficiency to maximize oxygen yield in Mars' challenging environment. The recent achievement is a testament to the continuous efforts to optimize the MOXIE experiment and pave the way for future resource utilization on the Red Planet.

The success of MOXIE holds immense significance for potential human missions to Mars, as it demonstrates the ability to generate vital oxygen for astronauts. By pushing the boundaries and surpassing previous production levels, the experiment sets a precedent for the development of technologies that can harness Martian resources effectively.

These advancements have the potential to revolutionize not only the breathable air supply but also the production of rocket propellant, opening new possibilities for sustained exploration and colonization of Mars in the future.

Oxygen Filter System on Mars

According to Futurism, MOXIE utilizes an electrochemical process to separate oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide molecules found in the Martian air. However, this procedure is not without risks, as it can lead to the accumulation of solid carbon byproducts within the device.

Throughout the year 2021, MOXIE operated for one hour at a time in seven separate runs to demonstrate its adaptability to the varying environmental conditions experienced on Mars. As the Martian year is twice as long as Earth's year, the instrument aimed to prove its functionality under different circumstances.

In 2022, the focus shifted to enhancing MOXIE's capabilities and developing new operating modes. The total accumulated operating time reached 1,000 minutes through 14 start-stop runs, providing valuable insights and an exciting journey for the team involved.

However, the experiment's funding is projected to cease by the end of the year, necessitating the search for new collaborators to continue the research.

With numerous unanswered questions remaining, it would be unfortunate to prematurely terminate the experiment. The scientists' current objective is to construct prototypes on Earth capable of generating sufficient oxygen for an entire Mars mission. Extending the operational lifetime of MOXIE is crucial, with aspirations to achieve continuous operation for 10,000 hours in future iterations.