Scientists create oxygen from moon dust

1 18. 03. 2020
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The European Space Agency (ESA) has set up an experimental "oxygen plant" in the Netherlands. As part of the project, scientists are able to extract 96 percent of the oxygen that is trapped in the simulated lunar dust. Also, the process preserves metals that could be valuable for future space missions.

Oxygen to the Moon

The ability to get oxygen from sources on the Moon would be extremely useful for future moon settlers, not just for breathing, but also for the production of rocket fuel. "Our equipment allows us to focus on oxygen production and measure it with a mass spectrometer," explained Beth Lomax, a researcher at the University of Glasgow.

How does it work?

Scientists first created a chemically identical form of regolith (a rock material) in a laboratory environment so that they did not have to use and therefore sacrifice a few samples we have on Earth. Then, calcium chloride (a type of salt) was melted, mixed with regolith, and finally the electric current was blown, which led to the extraction of oxygen. The process is called "molten salt electrolysis".

People will remain on the Moon and Mars

It is surprisingly sustainable and it brings several benefits. The manufacturing process leaves behind a tangle of different metals, as we wrote above, and this is another useful point of research - to find out the most important alloys for what and how they could be used. The exact combination of metals will depend on where exactly the regolith is obtained. We must count on significant regional differences.

All of this is set in motion for future missions to the Moon and Mars. ESA and NASA will want to stay there, which means that the very first space colonies will be born in human history.

Tip from Sueneé Universe

GFL Stanglmeier and André Liede: Secret Journeys to Space

War of the Moon there is a greater risk than we might imagine. Great powers like the US, China or Russia are seeking to acquire this strategic positions in spacebecause he who conquers the moon will be able to to rule Earth.

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