Space travel to Mars has been a goal for scientists and space agencies for decades. Mars is considered the most viable option for human colonization due to its relatively hospitable environment compared to other planets. 

MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-situ Resource Utilization Experiment) is lowered into the chassis of NASA’s Perseverance in 2019. During the mission, MOXIE extracted oxygen from the Martian atmosphere 16 times, testing a way that future astronauts could make rocket propellant that would launch them back to Earth
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The value of Mars exploration lies in its potential to answer fundamental questions about the possibility of life beyond Earth, understand the planet's climate and geology, and develop technologies that could benefit life on Earth.

Human Survival Needs on Mars

To survive on Mars, humans need:

Oxygen: The Martian atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide, with less than 1% oxygen. Humans need about 0.84 kg of oxygen per day.

Food: All food must be transported from Earth or grown in controlled environments.

Water: While there is water on Mars, it needs to be extracted and purified.

Shelter: Humans need enclosed habitats to protect against radiation, extreme temperatures, and dust storms.

Energy: Reliable power sources, such as nuclear fission, are essential due to Mars' long dust storms.

What is MOXIE?

As humans aim to live on Mars, creating breathable oxygen there is crucial. Mars' atmosphere has about 96% carbon dioxide (CO₂) and little oxygen. Carrying enough oxygen from Earth for humans and rockets would be very expensive and complicated. That's why MOXIE, the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, is so important.

MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) is crucial because it demonstrates the ability to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere. This technology is a stepping stone towards sustainable human presence on Mars, as it can provide breathable oxygen and rocket propellant.

How does MOXIE work?

By Principle, MOXIE works by using solid oxide electrolysis to split carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2) and carbon monoxide (CO). It is a device about the size of a car battery, roughly 24 x 24 x 31 cm.

Collecting Carbon Dioxide: MOXIE takes in Martian air through a filter that removes dust and dirt.

Compression and Heating: The air is compressed and heated to about 800 degrees Celsius.

Solid Oxide Electrolysis: This process splits CO₂ into oxygen (O₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) using a ceramic electrolyzer.

Producing Oxygen: Oxygen ions are isolated and then combined to form breathable oxygen (O₂).

Measuring and Releasing: The oxygen is measured for purity and then released back into the atmosphere along with other gases.

Research under ideal conditions has shown that MOXIE can produce up to 10 grams of oxygen per hour. However, experimentation on Mars showed it could produce 6 grams of oxygen per hour, equivalent to a small tree on Earth. A human needs about 0.84 kg of oxygen per day. Therefore, a scaled-up MOXIE would need to produce about 140-150 grams of oxygen per hour to support a group of four astronauts. Currently, 3-4 MOXIE might be needed to support a single human being's oxygen requirement. 

Systems for Life Support on Mars - NASA and other organizations are developing several systems to support life on Mars. These include the technological systems:

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) - These systems manage the environment inside habitats, providing oxygen, removing carbon dioxide, recycling water, and managing waste.

Bioregenerative Life-Support Systems (BLSS) - These systems use biological processes to recycle air, water, and food, creating a more sustainable living environment.

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) involves using Martian resources, such as regolith and atmosphere, to produce essential supplies like water, oxygen, and fuel.

Various other requirements are a must for the survival of human beings in the hostile environment of Mars. NASA is also working on these supportive systems for long-term human survival in Mars's fiery and hostile environment. These include:

Greenhouses - For growing food in controlled environments.

Water Extraction Systems - To extract and purify water from the Martian soil.

Radiation Shielding -To protect habitats from harmful cosmic radiation.

Energy Systems - Advanced nuclear fission reactors for reliable power.

Regarding sustainability, it is anticipated what effects earth-originated devices such as MOXIE could have on Mars. It could be too early to estimate that MOXIE could gradually change Mars' atmosphere by increasing the oxygen levels; the risk is extremely low due to the planet's thin atmosphere. Also, that would take a very long time.

MOXIE, a groundbreaking technology that produces oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, addresses one of the biggest challenges of space travel. It opens the door to sustainable exploration and colonization of the Red Planet.

Sources:

https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate/tdm/mars-oxygen-in-situ-resource-utilization-experiment-moxie/
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230009095/downloads/20230009095_Presentation.pdf
https://aeroastro.mit.edu/news-impact/mits-moxie-experiment-reliably-produces-oxygen-on-mars/