Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»Science»NASA’s MOXIE has Successfully Produced Oxygen on Mars
    "Total Recall" TriStar, Sony Pictures
    Science

    NASA’s MOXIE has Successfully Produced Oxygen on Mars

    Amy DavisBy Amy DavisSeptember 11, 20233 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    NASA’s first experiment to produce oxygen on another planet is a success! A microwave-size device called MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) on the Perseverance rover has successfully created oxygen on the red planet. 

    NASA / JPL

    This experiment started out a little over two years ago when the rover landed on Mars. Since then MOXIE has produced 122 grams of oxygen, equal to what a small dog breathes in 10 hours. At one point MOXIE even turned out 12 grams of oxygen at 98% purity, in an hour. This is twice as much as NASA originally expected from the device.  August 7th, saw the machine’s 16th round of operation, after that, it shut down due to completing its goals. 

    “We’re proud to have supported a breakthrough technology like MOXIE that could turn local resources into useful products for future exploration missions,” Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters said. “By proving this technology in real-world conditions, we’ve come one step closer to a future in which astronauts ‘live off the land’ on the Red Planet.”

    122 grams of Oxygen may not seem like a lot, but this is ground-breaking for our relationship with the red planet. Mar’s atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide which isn’t super helpful for species that breathe oxygen. MOXIE takes these carbon dioxide molecules that have one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms and separates them. It then disposes of the carbon monoxide as a waste product. While the system spits out the oxygen that it also analyzes for purity and quantity.

    The other challenge on Mars is how hot it is. Not to mention the conversion process that MOXIE has temperatures reaching 1,470 degrees Fahrenheit. So the machine had to be built from heat-tolerant materials, which is why it is coated in gold and aerogel. This coating keeps the heat from radiating out and damaging other aspects of the rover.

    MOXIE
    MOXIE (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

    “MOXIE’s impressive performance shows that it is feasible to extract oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere — oxygen that could help supply breathable air or rocket propellant to future astronauts,” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said in a statement. “Developing technologies that let us use resources on the Moon and Mars is critical to build a long-term lunar presence, create a robust lunar economy, and allow us to support an initial human exploration campaign to Mars.”

    Devices like MOXIE scaled up could provide full-on life support systems. It could also help astronauts to live off the land and utilize the resources from their surroundings. Which would mean hauling less equipment into space with them. Since MOXIE is just the first in a long string of devices that NASA intends to test on Mars. 

    “We have to make decisions about which things need to be validated on Mars,” said Michael Hecht, MOXIE principal investigator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “I think there are many technologies on that list; I’m very pleased MOXIE was first.”

    We’ll keep you posted on news about MOXIE and the other devices NASA is testing as it becomes available. 

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleTim Burton Says “Beetlejuice 2” is ‘99% Done’
    Next Article “The Drew Barrymore Show” Returns, Sans Writers
    Amy Davis

    Hi, I’m Amy. I like long walks in the graveyard, horror movies, comic books, and bringing you the latest in nerd-centric news.

    Related Posts

    Space Shuttle Discovery in orbit

    Smithsonian, Texas Fight for Ownership of Space Shuttle Discovery

    July 9, 2025

    Scientists Are Dropping Millions of Mosquitos to Save Hawaiian Bird Population

    June 17, 2025

    5 Easy Ways to Make Your Website Template Look Custom-Made

    June 8, 2025

    Metal Strength Testing Methods: From Tension to Impact

    May 1, 2025

    How Often Should You Calibrate Your Tensile Testing Equipment?

    May 1, 2025

    OSPF Basics for CCNA: LSA Types, Areas, and Metrics

    April 16, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    The Hidden World of Escape from Tarkov Cheats: What You Need to Know

    July 16, 2025

    What Are Some Apparel Brand Name Suggestions for a New Fashion Startup

    July 16, 2025

    Elevate Your Business with Premium Branding & Digital Product Design Services

    July 16, 2025

    Is Using an SMM Panel Safe? Pros and Cons

    July 16, 2025

    “Life After” Impartial Exposé on Complex, Important Issues [Review]

    July 15, 2025

    Nominations for the 77th Annual Emmys

    July 15, 2025

    UNO Denies Las Vegas Casino but Announces Social Clubs

    July 14, 2025
    Human Skin Bear

    A Teddy Bear Seemingly Wrapped in Human Skin Found

    July 14, 2025

    Link, Zelda Cast for Live-Action “Legend of Zelda” Film

    July 16, 2025

    “Life After” Impartial Exposé on Complex, Important Issues [Review]

    July 15, 2025

    Sarah Jessica Parker Gives Surprising “Hocus Pocus 3” Update

    July 15, 2025

    Jeffrey Combs Joins “Mystery of the Mothman” Cast

    July 15, 2025

    “Stranger Things” Final Season Gets Official Teaser

    July 16, 2025

    HBO Reveals First Look at New Harry Potter Actor in Costume

    July 14, 2025

    Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke Return for “Scrubs” Reboot

    July 11, 2025

    Larry David Returns to HBO with American History Sketch Show

    July 10, 2025

    “Life After” Impartial Exposé on Complex, Important Issues [Review]

    July 15, 2025

    “Superman” Big, Beautiful Mess Bursting With Color, Hope [Review]

    July 11, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    The F11PRO 2 Drone – Pro-Level Performance Meets Sleek Design

    July 3, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.