The team included scientists from the University of Lisbon, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sorbonne University, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, presented a method for harnessing and processing local resources to generate products on Mars.

Figure 1: Harnessing and processing local resources to generate products on Mars

Figure 1 shows thatthe atmosphere is primarily formed by carbon dioxide that can be split to produce oxygen, and its pressure is favorable for plasma ignition, natural conditions on the red planet are nearly ideal for in situ resource utilization by plasmas. [1]

Researchers claimed that there are two challenges to extracting what they need on Mars. One is the decomposition of carbon dioxide molecules to extract oxygen that would help in getting the material from the abundant resource on the planet.

Next is the separation of produced oxygen that may also contain carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The researchers claim that plasma would help in this venture and is beneficial to answering both challenges for future use.

There are many on-site resource utilization projects that researchers are coming up with for Mars, and the groups aim to give future crewmembers a chance to create something out of nothing on the planet. It is important to note that there are not a lot of materials on Mars and this would be a significant challenge once space crews step foot on the new frontier. [2]

In plasma, the fourth state of matter naturally occurring, there are free charged particles like electrons and ions. Because they are light, electrons may be rapidly accelerated by electric fields to very high energies.

According to Guerra, “bullet-like electrons can immediately destroy a carbon dioxide molecule or transfer energy to make it vibrate.” This energy can largely be directed toward the breakdown of carbon dioxide. We conducted experiments with colleagues in France and the Netherlands to prove the viability of these notions. Additionally, the heat produced by the plasma is useful for separating oxygen.

The production of fuels and fertilizers for future Martian agriculture begins with the production of oxygen, which is essential for producing a livable atmosphere. Future missions will necessitate local fuel production. All are essential for the eventual colonization of humans on Mars.

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. [3]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/new-way-invented-to-produce-oxygen-on-mars-for-future-explorers/
2. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/279296/20220817/mars-exploration-scientists-made-new-way-produce-oxygen-fuel-more.htm
3. https://greeninnovationhub.com/oxygen-on-mars/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022) Producing Oxygen on Mars Based on Plasma, Anatechmaz, pp. 414