MOXIE instrument on Perseverance sets new record for oxygen production
The MOXIE instrument on Perseverance this month doubled its last record for producing oxygen from the thin Martian atmosphere of carbon dioxide.
“This was the riskiest run we’ve done,” [Michael Hecht, MOXIE’s principal investigator] told Space.com in an exclusive interview. “This could have gone wrong,” he said, and could have led to minor damage to the instrument, but it didn’t. The milestone setting Mars run took place on June 6, operating during the Martian night, and lasted 58 minutes, Hecht said.
The requirements for MOXIE were to produce 6 grams of oxygen an hour, a rate that was eventually doubled. “We rolled the dice a little bit. It was ‘hold your breath and see what happens,'” Hecht said.
Informally dubbed by Hecht and his team as “the last hurrah,” MOXIE delivered the goods on its 15th run on Mars since first gulping up Martian atmosphere within Jezero Crater on April 20, 2021.
Producing twelve grams of oxygen per hours is a very big deal. A person requires about 20 grams per hour, so this demonstration instrument has shown it can produce more than half that. Build a larger version designed to work continuously, and you easily will create enough oxygen on Mars to sustain a colony.
This means the first humans to arrive on Mars will not need to bring oxygen, only enough Moxies. More important, the oxygen supply will be infinite, putting no limit to their stay.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The MOXIE instrument on Perseverance this month doubled its last record for producing oxygen from the thin Martian atmosphere of carbon dioxide.
“This was the riskiest run we’ve done,” [Michael Hecht, MOXIE’s principal investigator] told Space.com in an exclusive interview. “This could have gone wrong,” he said, and could have led to minor damage to the instrument, but it didn’t. The milestone setting Mars run took place on June 6, operating during the Martian night, and lasted 58 minutes, Hecht said.
The requirements for MOXIE were to produce 6 grams of oxygen an hour, a rate that was eventually doubled. “We rolled the dice a little bit. It was ‘hold your breath and see what happens,'” Hecht said.
Informally dubbed by Hecht and his team as “the last hurrah,” MOXIE delivered the goods on its 15th run on Mars since first gulping up Martian atmosphere within Jezero Crater on April 20, 2021.
Producing twelve grams of oxygen per hours is a very big deal. A person requires about 20 grams per hour, so this demonstration instrument has shown it can produce more than half that. Build a larger version designed to work continuously, and you easily will create enough oxygen on Mars to sustain a colony.
This means the first humans to arrive on Mars will not need to bring oxygen, only enough Moxies. More important, the oxygen supply will be infinite, putting no limit to their stay.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The present instrument draws 300 watts and weighs 33 pounds. I’m assuming that they will also need energy to synthesize fuel and secure water. Given the issue with solar panels and dust, what power source are they likely to use?
If there are humans there to need the oxygen, they could wipe off the solar panels as needed.
Mars is a radiation blasted wasteland, so nuclear power seems harmless. We’ve designed past the “fission plant meltdown” issue, but even if we hadn’t, so what? Granted, one would want a backup in case the primary reactor turned into a puddle of radioactive slag, but it’s not as if a puddle of radioactive slag is a problem – as long as its outside.
A self contained reactor like those they use on Navy subs. Should last 10 years without a refuel and since its not inside a sub refueling will be far easier.
The spent fuel could then be used to fuel a thermal TEG or RTG generator as a way to extend the use of the material.
Solar panels could be used to power smaller personal habitats.
I think a small study of Mars SPS might be worthwhile. Synchronous orbit form Mars is how far out and has what effect on minimum rectenna size? Closer orbit for somewhat intermittent power? Rectenna mass is what compared to solar panels? Relative dust sensitivity?
I like Zimmerman‘s idea, terraform Mars with Moxie trees.
Seriously though, power for the colonies and for mining will be plentiful if they have a reliable heat source.
There is nothing more energy dense then a nuclear reactor.
Put “polar cap dry ice” (CO2) into an old rocket fuel tanks, heat up with waste heat from the reactor, separate impurities (distill) and drain off the nitrogen and the water for other uses in the farm, then inject the CO2 liquid through a two-stage power turbine making use of high-pressure liquid then high-pressure gas before it’s vented into the vacuum where it refreezes into dry ice again. Theoretically, it’s more efficient than our water / steam reactors on earth.
Humans can’t live on the surface, and living quarters we bring to mars will be cramped. Mining tunnels will take time because equipment will be scarce until manufacturing is up and running. (mostly 3-D printers fed with iron meteorites… copper for electric motors might be a problem)
Lava tubes may be a solution for habitation, but dust and sharp rocks without raw materials nearby will be problematic.
Using a RTG to power a slightly used Mars lander with a mechanical arm to extend the RTG against the CO2 ice could melt entire living structures in the ice cap. (which is only slightly colder then nighttime temperatures of most of Mars) it seems to be the most efficient way to create habitable structures away from the wind, sun, dust with the minimal effort because CO2 as a gas will remove itself from the tunnels.
The Moxie will not only provide oxygen, but a waste product of pure carbon that when mixed with chemicals makes an excellent non-toxic insulation. (The living quarters must still be pressure vessels to prevent CO2 from the walls saturating breathing air to unhealthy levels)
Come to think of it, even underground structures will saturate breathing air with toxins. A sealant will be required, or melting the walls into glass. There’s plenty of sand on Mars, I can picture entire cities made of glass… If only we have enough heat!
Large meteor impacts creates heat and pressure that rivals a supernova. It wouldn’t surprise me that there are heavy metals in the Helenas basin, perhaps radioactive materials if we’re lucky.
If enough water could be found it could be used to create a cement that can be sprayed into tunnels to seal them.
To help dry the cement a dehumidifier inside the tunnel will condense out the water so most of it could be recycled.
Or even inflate domes inside the large natural tunnels and spray the outside with cement. Once hardened deflate the dome and pull it out the front door to use again.