The engineers are developing a device to generate oxygen under lunar conditions. Sierra Space
A team of engineers is advancing space innovation by developing a groundbreaking machine to produce oxygen on the moon. The project takes place within a giant vacuum sphere, pushing the limits of current technology.
The device, a silvery metal contraption adorned with colorful wires, represents a major step in developing life-sustaining technology for lunar habitats.
Brant White, program manager at Sierra Space, a private aerospace company, explained the importance of the experiment conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to BBC: “We’ve tested everything we can on Earth now. The next step is going to the moon.”
This groundbreaking project is one of several efforts to create systems capable of extracting resources from the moon’s surface. These systems aim to ensure astronauts have access to oxygen and other materials crucial for survival and deep-space exploration.
Extracting oxygen from lunar soil: The challenge
The experiment involved feeding simulated lunar regolith—dusty, sharp, and gritty soil—into the box-like machine. Heated to over 1,650°C, the regolith transformed into a molten gloop. When combined with reactants, oxygen-containing molecules began to bubble out.
This process, called carbothermal reduction, is promising but faces challenges. Lunar regolith is rich in metal oxides, making it a potential source of oxygen. However, replicating Earth-based extraction techniques on the moon is complicated due to harsh conditions like low gravity, extreme temperatures, and abrasive regolith.
“We’ve had to improve how the machine works to handle the jagged, abrasive texture of the regolith,” said White to BBC. The company’s tests in a vacuum chamber simulated lunar pressures and temperatures, but the unique challenge of lunar gravity—one-sixth of Earth’s—remains unresolved.
Paul Burke, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, highlighted this issue. His team’s studies on molten regolith electrolysis, another oxygen-extraction method, revealed that low gravity might hinder the detachment of oxygen bubbles from electrodes in the molten material.
“Those bubbles aren’t going to rise as fast – and may actually be delayed from detaching from the electrodes,” Burke explained.
Building sustainable lunar habitats
Despite challenges, the benefits of oxygen-extraction technologies are immense. Lunar oxygen could not only support astronauts but also serve as an oxidizer for rocket fuel, enabling missions to Mars and beyond. “It could save billions of dollars from mission costs,” said White, noting the high expense of transporting oxygen from Earth.
In addition to oxygen, regolith holds potential for extracting metals like iron, titanium, and lithium. Palak Patel, a Ph.D. student at MIT, developed a molten regolith electrolysis system that addresses the low-gravity issue by using a sonicator to dislodge oxygen bubbles. “We’re really looking at it from the standpoint of, ‘Let’s try to minimize the number of resupply missions,’” she said.
Patel’s research also explored melting simulated regolith into a tough, glass-like material that could be formed into hollow bricks for construction on the moon. Such materials might enable astronauts to build durable structures, 3D-printed spare parts, or even replacement spacecraft components.
Sierra Space’s system, while promising, requires the addition of some carbon to produce oxygen. However, most of this carbon can be recycled after each cycle, making the process efficient.
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A step towards lunar independence
As lunar exploration advances, developing resource-extraction technologies like Sierra Space’s oxygen generator will be critical. These innovations could transform the moon into a hub for scientific research, sustainable living, and interplanetary travel.
For now, teams like those led by White, Burke, and Patel are pushing the boundaries of engineering to make lunar independence a reality. As Patel optimistically noted, “The more resources that can be made on the moon, the better.”
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Sujita Sinha A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
