Perseverance produces oxygen on Mars: how does it work?

NASA announced in the past hours that the robot Determination Achievement Oxygen production on Mars Using the MOXIE tool, including this second successful mission of expedition to the Red Planet.

to me Release On Wednesday, a small experimental tool called the Mars Oxygen Resources Experiment (MOXIE) made a historic milestone for humanity.

NASA confirms that the successful test, which consists of converting carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen for humans, was conducted on Tuesday, April 20, that is, two months and two days after the landing of the persistent spacecraft on the surface of Mars.

Another huge first step: converting carbon dioxide into oxygen on Mars. By working on the ground with what is already there, MOXIE has shown it can be done!

Future explorers will need to generate oxygen for rocket fuel and to breathe on the red planet. https://t.co/9sjZT9KeOR

– NASA’s Perseverance on Mars (@ NASAPersevere) April 21, 2021

“This is an essential first step in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen on Mars,” said Jim Reuter, assistant director of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), according to the statement released by NASA on its official website.

However, Reuter warned: “MOXIE has more work to do, but the results of this experimental technique are promising as we move towards our goal of seeing humans on Mars someday. Oxygen is not just what we breathe in. The propellant of the rocket depends on oxygen, and it will depend. Future explorers on producing fuel on Mars for a trip home. “

NASA determines that after this first operation, MOXIE’s oxygen production was around 5 grams, equivalent to about 10 minutes of the astronaut’s breathable oxygen.

How does MOXIE, the toaster-sized device that carries oxygen on Mars, works from carbon dioxide

According to NASA, MOXIE separates oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide molecules, which consist of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

As a result of this first case, MOXIE is discharging carbon monoxide into the Martian atmosphere, says the same source.

MOXIE EXPERIENCE #PerseveranceRover you passed.

As reported by NASA, MOXIE produced 5 grams of oxygen from carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere.

This is a big step for the future of Mars exploration. pic.twitter.com/YiMw2wXqim

– Space Nøsey (@SpaceNosey) April 22, 2021

As for the conversion process, higher temperatures are required to reach a temperature of approximately 1470 ° F-800 ° C. This is why MOXIE is made of heat-resistant materials, such as 3D printed nickel alloy parts – they heat and cool the gases flowing through them – and a lightweight antenna that helps retain heat.

Likewise, NASA reported that a thin layer of gold on the outside of MOXIE reflects infrared heat, preventing it from radiating to the outside and potentially damaging other parts of the Robot Perseverance.

MOXIE is expected to extract at least nine times more oxygen over the course of a Martian year, equivalent to two years on Earth, according to Official information.

“You take regolith, the material in the soil, and pass it through a treatment plant, and turn it into a large structure, or take the carbon dioxide, most of the atmosphere, and convert it into oxygen,” added Trudy Curtis, Technical Presentation Director at STMD.

Regarding MOXIE’s hard work, Curtis concluded, “This process allows us to convert these abundant materials into usable things: propellant, breathable air, or with hydrogen and water.”

Creative helicopter flying for the second time in the sky of Mars

April 22nd each year marks World Earth Day, but starting this Thursday, that date will also be remembered through the second flight of an Ingenuity helicopter through the Martian sky.

NASA ad Through his social networks, Ingenuity, who traveled to the Red Planet aboard Perseverance, said, “He flew to the sky over the Jezero crater on Mars higher and for a longer time,” as can be read in one of his recent tweets.

Second ever # helicopter The journey is in the books! 🔴

Just three days after its maiden flight, our tiny helicopter flew in the sky again over the Gezero Crater on Mars higher and for a longer time. Delve into full details: https://t.co/SLEegXdvMj pic.twitter.com/xLmEP1S7dz

NASA (@ NASA) April 22, 2021

NASA explains that the second creative flight on Mars took 51.9 seconds and added many challenges compared to The first experiment: Higher maximum height, longer duration, sideways movement.

“So far, the engineering telemetry we received and analyzed tells us that the flight met expectations and that the previous computer model was accurate,” explained Bob Ballaram, chief engineer of the Mars Innovation Helicopter. NASA in Southern California, in data given to NASA.

How to top it # helicopterHistoric first trip? Go Bigger.

We will try a more challenging second flight on April 22: flight time 50 seconds, ascent to 16 feet (5 meters), incline 5 degrees to accelerate sideways ~ 7 feet (2 meters). We’ll update you here with the results. https://t.co/tDmJJNjPPk pic.twitter.com/laAIcL4UgS

– NASA JPL (@ NASAJPL) April 21, 2021

“The helicopter stopped and froze and turned to point the camera in different directions. Then he returned to the center of the airport to land. It sounds simple, but there are a lot of unknowns about how a helicopter flies on the surface of Mars,” said Havard Gripp, chief pilot of proficiency at JPL. He is the reason we are here to announce this unknown. “

Read more: The first image of Mars reported by a NASA robot – photo

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