MOXIE’s Significance on the Path to Colonising Mars
An article inspired and developed from my Year 12 Research Project that achieved A+ with Merit
☆
An article inspired and developed from my Year 12 Research Project that achieved A+ with Merit ☆
Capture of the MOXIE instrument itself in a cleanroom facility
Colonising Mars has been dreamt about since the 1940’s when German rocket scientist Wenher von Braun envisioned the first human mission to Mars and promoted interest in space exploration. Now that’s roughly 80 years ago... and we still aren’t there (Here’s Why There’s Still Not a Human on Mars 2015). However, technology has developed more than ever in the past 20 years, and this leads us to the Mars Oxygen In situ Resource Utilization Experiment – MOXIE.
Colonising Mars will not only provide a second home for humans but could; answer questions about the evolution of life, further develop technologies, and help humans grow as a species. MOXIE will aid in this process by providing us with a way to generate oxygen, however, it still requires further development before it’s viable to sustain a proper mission (Guzman 2020) (In-Situ Resource Utilization 2011).
ʻMOXIE, the Mars Oxygen In situ Resource Utilization Experiment'
WHAT IS MOXIEʼS PURPOSE?
In-Situ Resource Utilization, ISRU, is a necessary focus to be able to create future long-term bases that are self-sufficient. ISRU is the process of generating products using materials found and obtained from local surroundings. This is exactly what MOXIE is doing when converting the atmosphere from Mars into oxygen (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021; In-Situ Resource Utilization 2011).
Although most people’s first thought would be that MOXIE could be used for generating oxygen for astronauts to breathe, it’s actually one of the lesser focuses of this technology. (Gohd 2021). Fuel is one of the heaviest resources that astronauts require, and the idea of creating oxygen to burn fuel on Mars, could substantially reduce costs by billions of dollars as rockets wouldn’t have to carry as much weight (Hinterman 2018) (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021).
For example, a trip of four astronauts to Mars requires only 1 metric tonne of oxygen between them to breathe and live, but 25 metric tonnes of oxygen are used by the rocket to burn 7 metric tonnes of fuel for the journey (Leman 2021).
MOXIE, is an oxygen generator within a family of technologies that contain fuel cells (Gohd 2021) (Hecht 2021). It has the ability to convert thin carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere into oxygen through the process of electrolysis (Leman 2021) (Rothery 2020). After the oxygen is isolated, by separating its atoms from the carbon dioxide molecules, the oxygen is stored while carbon monoxide is emitted into the atmosphere.
MOXIE is designed to push the limits of what humanity can do and challenge what could be possible (Gohd 2021). MOXIE was attached to the perseverance rover and sent to Mars on the 30th of July 2020 where it then landed on the 18th of February 2021 (Witze 2021). Testing the functionality of the instrument and how it runs in different atmospheric conditions was extremely important before relying on this technology. NASA was able to test new operating modes in real environmental conditions, as well as ensure that the instrument could survive the launch from Earth, a seven- month journey, and the touchdown on Mars (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021).
“Rockets breathe hundreds of times as much oxygen as people.”
Capture of NASA’s Perseverance Rover on Mars
HOW HAS MOXIE BEEN DESIGNED?
MOXIE is a unique technology and is a toaster-sized experimental instrument that is essentially a mechanical tree (Gohd 2021) (Museum of Science 2021). MOXIE is an extremely complex technology, with a Graphical User Interface (GUI), that allows members of the MOXIE team to navigate and run it easier (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021). This GUI consists of icons for programs that represent aspects of the MOXIE technology that can be controlled by NASA.
MOXIE uses the process of electrolysis to generate oxygen (Hinterman 2018). Using a pump, Martian air is drawn into a mechanical pumping compressor, where the carbon dioxide in the vacuum is transferred from a low-pressure to a high-pressure place (Leman 2021). This is so that it can be squeezed to a similar pressure to what would be experienced at sea level on Earth.
Multiple compressors were considered throughout the design process such as cryo pumping (gases condensed and held at an extremely low vapor pressure) and sorption pumping (uses the condensation of gas at low temperatures), however, mechanical pumping was chosen due to its efficiency and reliability (Museum of Science 2021).
Oxygen is separated from carbon dioxide by using oxygen ions to conduct electricity when heated to high temperatures. Gases are then analysed for how much oxygen has been produced, how pure it is, and how efficient it is (Leman 2021). MOXIE was designed to produce 5-10 grams of oxygen per hour, enough to keep a small dog alive. As a result of this electrochemical process, carbon monoxide remains.
As it was only the testing stage, both the carbon monoxide and oxygen were vented back into the atmosphere. However, in future when MOXIE is put to real use or when similar technology is developed, only the carbon monoxide will be vented out when the analysis process is complete.
MOXIE is built from heat-tolerant materials to withstand extreme temperatures that reach up to 800 degrees Celsius, necessary for the chemical electrolysis process (Museum of Science 2021). MOXIE is built from 3D printed nickel alloy parts to heat and cool gases flowing through, lightweight aerogel which helps hold in heat, and a thin gold coating on the outside of the technology which reflects infrared heat and prevents damage to other parts of the Perseverance rover (Gohd 2021).
A labelled image of NASA’s MOXIE technology
How MOXIE can Benefit the Process of Humans Colonising Mars
MOXIE can benefit the process of humans colonising Mars as it can reduce transport costs and provide oxygen for rockets and astronauts. MOXIE’s technology provides the potential for future space farers to produce materials from resources available on Mars and possibly other objects in space (Rothery 2020). A scaled-up version of MOXIE could also provide the oxygen needed to burn fuel for an ascent vehicle that could bring astronauts home from Mars.
To burn fuel, rockets require certain amounts of oxygen in relation to the total weight of the rocket. For example, for 4 astronauts to be transported to space, and then live and work in space for a year, a rough total of 26 metric tonnes of oxygen is required. 25 metric tonnes to burn 7 metric tonnes of fuel and only 1 metric tonne is used for breathing. This is to show how much more important oxygen is for burning fuel rather than just for breathing.
First, MOXIE had a two-hour warm-up period. MOXIE was found to produce 6 grams of oxygen per hour, however, the total oxygen produced was only 5.4 grams. This was due to two current sweeps to check the status of MOXIE during its production. This is a great achievement as 5.4 grams of oxygen can sustain a healthy astronaut for about 10 minutes of normal activity (Leman 2021). However, MOXIE still needs to be further improved to reach the level of oxygen production necessary for a trip of four astronauts to Mars and enough to burn fuel for the return trip. If MOXIE is produced on a larger scale, it’s critical if successful to show that future astronauts can rely on MOXIE to bring them back to Earth (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021).
Rocket propellent is necessary for a mission. If oxygen can be made on Mars’ thin, dense atmosphere, made of mostly carbon dioxide, then it reduces the amount of oxygen needed to be taken from Earth.
MOXIEʼS FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS
The Perseverance rover itself needs a stronger power supply as majority of the power is used up by the compressor, preferably a 25-30kw power plant would aid in the share of power (Hecht 2021).
Seasonal and daily changes of weather are factors that need to be considered when improving MOXIE. NASA does not want a technology that degrades over time and produces less and less oxygen if it is impacted and possibly damaged by weather. Temperature swings of more than 65 degrees Celsius occur, along with strong winds that can blow up to 2000 kilometres per hour. This weather can lead to dust storms that can block out the sun for months and cause air pressure to drastically increase (Atlas of the Skies n.d., p. pp. 164-167) (Leman 2021). MOXIE needs to be able to adapt to these varied pressures as the dense weather is completely unpredictable and the resistance of the instrument will change over time (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021). NASA then needs to listen to the rover’s engine through Perseverance’s’ two microphones and keep the instrument in a sweet spot of electricity.
Too much voltage could cause MOXIE to produce carbon or soot instead of carbon monoxide and too low can flood the system with carbon dioxide and oxidize the technology (Leman 2021).
The previous MOXIE that was sent up to Mars with the Perseverance rover was testing this issue as well as other software. The results are that it can operate under pressure between two and twelve Torr, which will aid in the development of the future full-scale MOXIE (Hecht 2021). It is more than likely that the future MOXIE will have a completely different control system to meet these needs.
A powerful descendant of MOXIE is going to be a scaled-up version of the current MOXIE for more oxygen production. It is estimated to be a bit larger than a household stove and weighs around 1000 kilograms. MOXIE is currently 0.5% of the scale that would be necessary to produce oxygen to use as a propellent for a four-person mission to Mars. Due to the promising results from MOXIE’s previous version, the future full-scale MOXIE is expected to produce 25 tonnes of oxygen on the same schedule, therefore more practical and economical for future space flight.
Currently, MOXIE uses so much of Perseverance’s energy supply that all other instruments need to be shut down while MOXIE is running, and the rover then needs to rest for nearly a whole Martian day. To improve MOXIE’s oxygen production, a larger compressor will be designed, and the electrolysis stacks need to be scaled up by a factor of a hundred, e.g., have more layers added and increase the active area in the electrochemical stack (Leman 2021). Full-scale MOXIE needs to be able to run for 10,000 hours at a rate of 2-3 kilograms per hour to produce the needed oxygen for a four-person mission. To relate this back to how MOXIE is seen as a mechanical tree, it needs to be the equivalent of 200 trees to be able to support missions and needs to run for a year on Mars before a crew is sent (Episode 746: Interview: Dr. Michael Hecht, Making Oxygen with MOXIE 2021).
MOXIE is currently classified as very energy inefficient.
Only about a tenth of its power goes into electrolysis because Perseverance uses the remaining power for other technologies on board. Future hope is that at least half of Perseverance’s power can be used for the electrolysis process as MOXIE only produces as much oxygen as the rover’s power system supplies.
The Mars Perseverance rover capturing a selfie on the red planet
MOXIE’s Impact on Current Plans for Colonisation
Describing the full extent that MOXIE is important for colonising Mars would require knowledge into the future as unpredictable events and issues could arise in the science sector that completely change plans for what is to come.
MOXIE is attached to the Perseverance rover and has been designed to adapt to any unsuspected weather patterns or system issues that could affect the instrument drastically.
So based on what MOXIE is capable of and NASA’s plans for further development, it appears that NASA is relying on this technology to support future missions.
If successful, MOXIE will be a great benefit to human exploration as it will provide oxygen to burn fuel for return trips from Mars, backup breathable air, habitation pressure stabilisations and other life support systems.
Australia’s Involvement in the MOXIE Technology
The Artemis missions are to establish a base camp on the moon and a gateway in lunar orbit, and with these, form a long-term presence and understanding of living and working in such an environment. From this, the end goal would be to use this developed knowledge and send astronauts to Mars (NASA: Artemis 2025). Although MOXIE is not directly connected to the Artemis missions but rather the Perseverance mission, it’s still a part of the overall goal of space exploration and developing a base on Mars, something Australia is supporting through their signage to the Artemis Accords which connects the broader goals of sustainable exploration of outer space, something MOXIE has repeatedly proved can be achieved in the sense of oxygen production on Mars. (Australia signs NASA’s Artemis Accords 2022).
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