The first steps towards terraforming by The Weyland-Yutani Corporation?

Kidding aside, advances like this intrigue me. I'm also wondering if there are any applications for this technology by those who believe man-made CO2 is the cause of Global Warming.

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MIT’s MOXIE experiment reliably produces oxygen on Mars

Day and night, and across seasons, the instrument generates breathable oxygen from the Red Planet’s thin atmosphere.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office
Publication Date:August 31, 2022


In a study just published today, researchers report that, by the end of 2021, the MIT-led MOXIE project was able to produce Oxygen on seven experimental runs on the red planet. Credit NASA/ JPL Cal-tech

On the red and dusty surface of Mars, nearly 100 million miles from Earth, an instrument the size of a lunchbox is proving it can reliably do the work of a small tree.

The MIT-led Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, or MOXIE, has been successfully making oxygen from the Red Planet’s carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere since April 2021, about two months after it touched down on the Martian surface as part of NASA’s Perseverance rover and Mars 2020 mission.

In a study published today in the journal Science Advances, researchers report that, by the end of 2021, MOXIE was able to produce oxygen on seven experimental runs, in a variety of atmospheric conditions, including during the day and night, and through different Martian seasons. In each run, the instrument reached its target of producing six grams of oxygen per hour — about the rate of a modest tree on Earth.

Researchers envision that a scaled-up version of MOXIE could be sent to Mars ahead of a human mission, to continuously produce oxygen at the rate of several hundred trees. At that capacity, the system should generate enough oxygen to both sustain humans once they arrive, and fuel a rocket for returning astronauts back to Earth.

So far, MOXIE’s steady output is a promising first step toward that goal.

“We have learned a tremendous amount that will inform future systems at a larger scale,” says Michael Hecht, principal investigator of the MOXIE mission at MIT’s Haystack Observatory.

MOXIE’s oxygen production on Mars also represents the first demonstration of “in-situ resource utilization,” which is the idea of harvesting and using a planet’s materials (in this case, carbon dioxide on Mars) to make resources (such as oxygen) that would otherwise have to be transported from Earth.

“This is the first demonstration of actually using resources on the surface of another planetary body, and transforming them chemically into something that would be useful for a human mission,” says MOXIE deputy principal investigator Jeffrey Hoffman, a professor of the practice in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. “It’s historic in that sense.”

Hoffman and Hecht’s MIT co-authors include MOXIE team members Jason SooHoo, Andrew Liu, Eric Hinterman, Maya Nasr, Shravan Hariharan, Kyle Horn, and Parker Steen, along with collaborators from multiple institutions including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which managed MOXIE’s development, flight software, packaging, and testing prior to launch.


Seasonal air

The current version of MOXIE is small by design, in order to fit aboard the Perseverance rover, and is built to run for short periods, starting up and shutting down with each run, depending on the rover’s exploration schedule and mission responsibilities. In contrast, a full-scale oxygen factory would include larger units that would ideally run continuously.

Despite the necessary compromises in MOXIE’s current design, the instrument has shown it can reliably and efficiently convert Mars’ atmosphere into pure oxygen. It does so by first drawing the Martian air in through a filter that cleans it of contaminants. The air is then pressurized, and sent through the Solid OXide Electrolyzer (SOXE), an instrument developed and built by OxEon Energy, that electrochemically splits the carbon dioxide-rich air into oxygen ions and carbon monoxide.

The oxygen ions are then isolated and recombined to form breathable, molecular oxygen, or O2, which MOXIE then measures for quantity and purity before releasing it harmlessly back into the air, along with carbon monoxide and other atmospheric gases.

Since the rover’s landing in February 2021, MOXIE engineers have started up the instrument seven times throughout the Martian year, each time taking a few hours to warm up, then another hour to make oxygen before powering back down. Each run was scheduled for a different time of day or night, and in different seasons, to see whether MOXIE could accommodate shifts in the planet’s atmospheric conditions.

“The atmosphere of Mars is far more variable than Earth,” Hoffman notes. “The density of the air can vary by a factor of two through the year, and the temperature can vary by 100 degrees. One objective is to show we can run in all seasons.”

So far, MOXIE has shown that it can make oxygen at almost any time of the Martian day and year.

“The only thing we have not demonstrated is running at dawn or dusk, when the temperature is changing substantially,” Hecht says. “We do have an ace up our sleeve that will let us do that, and once we test that in the lab, we can reach that last milestone to show we can really run any time.”


Ahead of the game

As MOXIE continues to churn out oxygen on Mars, engineers plan to push its capacity, and increase its production, particularly in the Martian spring, when atmospheric density and carbon dioxide levels are high.

“The next run coming up will be during the highest density of the year, and we just want to make as much oxygen as we can,” Hecht says. “So we’ll set everything as high as we dare, and let it run as long as we can.”

They will also monitor the system for signs of wear and tear. As MOXIE is just one experiment among several aboard the Perseverance rover, it cannot run continuously as a full-scale system would. Instead, the instrument must start up and shut down with each run — a thermal stress that can degrade the system over time.

If MOXIE can operate successfully despite repeatedly turning on and off, this would suggest that a full-scale system, designed to run continuously, could do so for thousands of hours.

“To support a human mission to Mars, we have to bring a lot of stuff from Earth, like computers, spacesuits, and habitats,” Hoffman says. “But dumb old oxygen? If you can make it there, go for it — you’re way ahead of the game.”

This research was supported, in part, by NASA.

All they need to do is start the reactor, the aliens built it to create a livable atmosphere, once it hits the Tribidim the reaction will make Mars inhabitable, everyone knows that...

So the question I have is now is this device powered? If it’s something like solar that’s one thing but if it is powered by a fuel that was brought along that’s another can of worms…

Non the less this is pretty cool.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
All they need to do is start the reactor, the aliens built it to create a livable atmosphere, once it hits the Tribidim the reaction will make Mars inhabitable, everyone knows that...

What was that doo-dad they used in Star Trek? They just shot some kind of missile at the planet and voila!

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
All they need to do is start the reactor, the aliens built it to create a livable atmosphere, once it hits the Tribidim the reaction will make Mars inhabitable, everyone knows that...

What was that doo-dad they used in Star Trek? They just shot some kind of missile at the planet and voila!

The Genesis device.



"From hell's heart, I stab at thee. For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee."

There ya go! Launch one of them at Mars and I'll be on the next shuttle.

This could be a useful technology for creating air in artificial environments or even fuel for getting off planet.

Unfortunately, even if oxygen hold be somehow generated at volumes to create breathable air, Mars is incapable of holding onto an atmosphere as it has no magnetosphere to keep solar radiation from stripping it away.

quote:

splits the carbon dioxide-rich air into oxygen ions and carbon monoxide

Hmmm......

quote:

The air is then pressurized and sent through the Solid OXide Electrolyzer (SOXE), an instrument developed and built by OxEon Energy, that electrochemically splits the carbon dioxide-rich air into oxygen ions and carbon monoxide.

If we do this here on Earth, what happens to the carbon monoxide by-product?

It’s one thing to make the oxygen. It’s another to keep it.

Mars does not have a magnetic field to shield the planet from the solar wind so anything made will get stripped away before it can do much good.

To terraform the planet the first thing they need to do is jump start the core back to a molten and spinning state.

But it was a great demo of a new technology.

I guess it would work for enclosed habitats on Mars.

Oh for fucks sake. They produced the oxygen of a tree. It’s cool science. That is a
long expensive way from practical science. The fact that they are talking about terraforming is comical. Terraforming. A planet. Yea ok, just keep burning money at this altar of lunacy.

We have real problems here on Earth that these billions and probably trillions of dollars could be aimed at. Nope. Terraforming a planet. We can’t dispose of our own waste or figure out how many or where hurricanes will go but we think we can terraform an entire planet.

Will no one admit that the overwhelmingly likely outcome of this is a shit ton of money and effort for zero practical ability to live on Mars? Are there any adults on these projects who aren’t all coked up on massive government budgets?

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Oh for fucks sake. They produced the oxygen of a tree. It’s cool science. That is a
long expensive way from practical science. The fact that they are talking about terraforming is comical. Terraforming. A planet. Yea ok, just keep burning money at this altar of lunacy.

We have real problems here on Earth that these billions and probably trillions of dollars could be aimed at. Nope. Terraforming a planet. We can’t dispose of our own waste or figure out how many or where hurricanes will go but we think we can terraform an entire planet.

Will no one admit that the overwhelmingly likely outcome of this is a shit ton of money and effort for zero practical ability to live on Mars? Are there any adults on these projects who aren’t all coked up on massive government budgets?

Boy am I glad you weren't friends with Robert Goddard, probably would have told him to go get a real job, and stop playing with his little rockets.

quote:

Originally posted by airsoft guy:

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Oh for fucks sake. They produced the oxygen of a tree. It’s cool science. That is a
long expensive way from practical science. The fact that they are talking about terraforming is comical. Terraforming. A planet. Yea ok, just keep burning money at this altar of lunacy.

We have real problems here on Earth that these billions and probably trillions of dollars could be aimed at. Nope. Terraforming a planet. We can’t dispose of our own waste or figure out how many or where hurricanes will go but we think we can terraform an entire planet.

Will no one admit that the overwhelmingly likely outcome of this is a shit ton of money and effort for zero practical ability to live on Mars? Are there any adults on these projects who aren’t all coked up on massive government budgets?

Boy am I glad you weren't friends with Robert Goddard, probably would have told him to go get a real job, and stop playing with his little rockets.

There are rational projects and there are flights of fancy. Building rockets to overcome gravity is doable. Creating an atmosphere on a planet that has no possible way of keeping it is lunacy. Trying to restructure the surface and atmosphere on a world that is bombarded uninhibited by both solar and cosmic radiation is a monumental waste of resources. Building underground habitats and supplying it with air and water are far more possible, but without a working magnetosphere it’s just not, and will never be feasible.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:



There are rational projects and there are flights of fancy. Building rockets to overcome gravity is doable. Creating an atmosphere on a planet that has no possible way of keeping it is lunacy. Trying to restructure the surface and atmosphere on a world that is bombarded uninhibited by both solar and cosmic radiation is a monumental waste of resources. Building underground habitats and supplying it with air and water are far more possible, but without a working magnetosphere it’s just not, and will never be feasible.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh ...

These discussions always go the same way. Somebody like you compares my comments to Robert Goddard or that if you go faster than a horse can run you will catch fire. Oh fucking brother.

This planet, this country actually has real solvable problems. The $$$ thrown at terraforming a planet that has zero actual chance of supporting life on anything other than a farcical level is insane.

Do I think if you throw everything at the problem you could create an ISS type bio bubble on Mars where 15 astronauts could sorta eke out a living, kinda, maybe while taking soil samples and driving a Rover? Sure. But to what fucking end?

This is pure flights of fancy drivel. Let’s throw this kind of effort at something actually useful. Or here is a thought just don’t waste taxpayer money and clean up our cities and our waterways.

Best case scenario what do you think going to Mars is going to accomplish? Do you actually think we will colonize the planet? There are only 9 planets within our reach depending on if you count Pluto. None of them are even close to habitable. Short of fantasy speeds we aren’t getting anywhere else. Ever. If we do I will apologize. This is intellectual alchemy.

The word terraforming was used and nobody even chuckled. Come on. Why not just add warp speed and dilithium crystals to that article. That is the level of foothold in reality that we are talking about. This is Popular Mechanics cover porn.

(I reread the article, they never said terraforming the OP did. They just infer this is a large step to men living on Mars. Still a colossal waste imo).

The MIT article does NOT mention 'terraforming' at all, and is purely about the MOXIE experiment. The OP however did mention the word 'terraforming' as a descriptor of the screenrant link re: 'The Weyland-Yutani Corporation', the fictitious company in the Alien movie series. Perhaps some missed the wink/sarcasm/wise ass emoticon...

Apparently reading comprehension (and logical thought) was a bit lacking on the part of a few here because NOBODY is talking about 'terraforming' the entire planet of Mars!

Space-X does have plans (dreams?) of a mission to Mars, so this MOXIE experiment would be a valuable technology in support of that mission. Regardless, it's pretty cool technology that may lead to other breakthroughs in 'science'...

This technology is not going to terraform Mars into a second Earth. It might create a potentially limitless amount of oxygen for habitats/biodomes/fuel which would make it unnecessary for future explorers to have to bring it with them. Probably would be useful for the trip too, though you'd have to vent the CO so it wouldn't completely get rid of the need to bring atmo with you, you'd just need less over time.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:

Space-X does have plans (dreams?) of a mission to Mars, so this MOXIE experiment would be a valuable technology in support of that mission. Regardless, it's pretty cool technology that may lead to other breakthroughs in 'science'...

NO! There isn't a use for it right this moment, so it's useless, and anybody who says otherwise is living in La-La Land.

By the way, looks like NASA's budget is $30.61 Billion this year. Reckon there's a dozen other agencies spending much more than that that we could shave some off first before we get to the "flights of fancy" from NASA and MIT. Like bitching about losing a nickel while someone is lifting your whole wallet.