NASA’s Perseverance rover descends to touch down on Mars in a still image from a video camera aboard the descent stage taken February 18, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Handout via REUTERS
UNITED STATES — NASA’s Perseverance rover keeps making history.
The six-wheeled robot has converted some carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen, the first time this has happened on another planet, the space agency said Wednesday.
“This is a critical first step at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen on Mars,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s space technology mission directorate.
The technology demonstration took place on April 20, and it’s hoped future versions of the experimental instrument that was used could pave the way for future human exploration.
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
Not only can the process produce oxygen for future astronauts to breathe, but it could make hauling vast amounts of oxygen over from Earth to use as rocket propellant for the return journey unnecessary.
The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment — or MOXIE — is a golden box the size of a car battery, and is located inside the front right side of the rover.
