This article explains a process scientists are exploring to create breathable oxygen on Mars.
The Mars atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide – a NASA project called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (or MOXIE) separates oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide molecules to create breathable air.
The oxygen can also be used for other things like fuel for future missions – I flipping love space stuff and find this fascinating, but also a little bewildering at the same time…
There are a tonne of complexities with MOXIE – other processes need to happen, something called plasma is involved – it’s a whole thing.
But what I found amusing was the last paragraph of the article (bold mine):
By dissociating carbon dioxide molecules to produce green fuels and recycle chemicals, the plasma technology may also be helpful in addressing climate change on Earth.
Sections of the space industry are so focused on getting to Mars that they’re actually finding ways to make the air that is almost completely carbon dioxide, breathable air.
Maybe I’ve missed something obvious, but it feels like that’s be pretty handy tech to have here on Earth while our own air slowly fills up with… carbon dioxide! 🤔
It’s only a gentle backhander really, I think this tech is amazing and could truly open up some useful solutions… for both planets.
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