NASA’s Perseverance Rover is designed to explore Mars in NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory series of missions.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — When the Perseverance rover landed on planet Mars in February 2021, it carried the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) which aims to extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere. Since then, the device has produced oxygen 16 times and finally completed its trials on August 7, 2023.
During this time, it was reported IFL Science, Wednesday (13/9/2023), Perseverance produced 12 grams (0.4 ounces) of oxygen per hour at the most efficient level. That number is twice as much as expected by the United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In addition, the oxygen produced has a purity of 98 percent or higher.
In a press release announcing the success of the mission, NASA explained that the total 122 grams (4.3 ounces) of oxygen produced would be enough to keep a small dog alive for 10 hours.
Humans need about 840 grams (30 ounces) of oxygen a day to survive according to NASA. This means that the oxygen produced by the rover will support astronauts for less than 3.5 hours.
Deputy Administrator NASA Pam Melroy in a press release said MOXIE’s impressive performance shows that oxygen extraction from Martian atmosphere can be done. Oxygen could help supply breathable air or rocket fuel for future astronauts.
“Developing technologies that allow us to use resources on the Moon and Mars is critical to establishing a long-term Lunar presence, creating a robust lunar economy, and allowing us to support early human exploration campaigns to Mars,” Melroy said.
While keeping astronauts and their dogs from dying in the slightest is impressive, NASA explained that living on this planet would require large amounts of fuel, and it would be the primary goal to produce our own oxygen while we’re there. The team plans to perfect MOXIE, as well as create a way to liquefy and store the oxygen it produces.
2023-09-13 01:28:54
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