Many science fiction enthusiasts will recall Mark Watney, the protagonist in “The Martian,” who ingeniously survived on Mars by extracting water from the hydrogen in rocket fuel and producing oxygen using the life support system. The life support system produced oxygen from the carbon dioxide abundant in the Martian atmosphere.

The technology in this science fiction story may become real in the near future, as humans are actively thinking about expanding mankind’s presence beyond Earth. Mars and the Moon are considered humans’ primary targets for establishing a presence.

This article explains the technologies that future humans may use to generate oxygen and water to survive on Mars. There have already been some experiments and instruments developed in this area.

Making Oxygen on Mars

The MOXIE experiment on NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully generated oxygen from Mars’ atmosphere 16 times. This technology demonstration generated 122 grams of oxygen in total, reaching a peak production rate of 12 grams per hour at 98% purity.

The success of MOXIE is a significant step towards future Mars missions, enabling the possibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for creating breathable air and rocket propellant for astronauts.

NASA’s Perseverance rover, part of the Mars 2020 mission, is designed to explore the Martian surface, search for signs of ancient life, and collect samples for future return to Earth. Equipped with advanced scientific instruments, Perseverance has been investigating Jezero Crater, an area believed to have once contained a lake.

The rover also carries the Ingenuity helicopter, which has successfully conducted multiple flights, demonstrating the potential for aerial exploration on Mars. Perseverance’s mission aims to deepen our understanding of Mars’ geology and climate, paving the way for human exploration.

MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) generates oxygen from carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere using a process called solid oxide electrolysis.In this process, carbon dioxide is converted into carbon monoxide and oxygen.

2CO₂​→2CO+O_2​

MOXIE draws in carbon dioxide, which is plentiful in the Martian atmosphere, and then performs electrolysis to convert it into oxygen. In this process, the carbon dioxide is heated to a high temperature, making it more reactive.

The heated carbon dioxide passes through an electrolyzer in which a solid oxide electrolyte is sandwiched between two electrodes, a cathode and an anode. At the cathode, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is introduced, where it gains electrons and is reduced to carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen ions (O₂⁻). The oxygen ions (O₂⁻) move through the solid oxide electrolyte towards the anode due to the electric field applied across the electrolyzer. At the anode, the oxygen ions lose electrons and recombine to form molecular oxygen (O₂).

The produced oxygen on Mars will be useful for the life support systems of humans in Martian habitats and can be used as rocket propellant. Oxygen is a key component of rocket propellant. Producing oxygen on Mars can significantly reduce the amount of fuel that needs to be transported from Earth for return trips or further exploration.

Mining Water on Mars

Future humans in Martian habitats will need water to survive. We have already discovered the presence of water on Mars, mainly in the form of water ice and water vapor in the atmosphere.

Mars contains substantial water ice deposits, especially at the poles and potentially beneath the surface. Mining this ice and then melting it could provide a reliable water source. Mars’ atmosphere contains small amounts of water vapor. Technologies like dehumidifiers could extract this water from the air.

Large ice deposits are located at the Martian poles and beneath the surface in mid-latitude regions. Radar data from orbiters like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) help identify these ice-rich areas.

This ice can be mined by drilling, heating, and sublimation. Drilling techniques similar to those used in Antarctic ice drilling could be employed on Mars. Applying heat to the ground to melt ice and then collecting the liquid water is another method. Sublimation is the process of turning solid into vapor without passing through the liquid phase; sunlight or artificial heat sources can be used to convert ice directly to vapor, which is then condensed into water.

Conclusion

As humanity prepares for future Mars missions, developing technologies for producing oxygen and water on Mars is crucial. The success of the MOXIE experiment demonstrates the potential for generating oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, paving the way for sustainable life support and rocket propellant. Additionally, mining water ice and extracting atmospheric water vapor provide viable solutions for water needs. These advancements are essential for establishing a long-term human presence on Mars, ensuring self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on Earth.