America wants to produce oxygen on Mars

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is building a robot capable of generating oxygen from the Martian atmosphere in preparation for a human landing.

Simulation of the next generation Mars rover. The CO2-based air-generating device called MOXIE. Photo: BBC

NASA announced that the new generation of autonomous robots will leave the launch pad in 2020 and land on the surface of the red planet in 2021. It will carry out 7 scientific projects to pave the way for the ambition of sending people to Mars in the future, Space reported.

According to the design drawings, the new device weighs about a ton and is worth 1.9 billion USD. It was born based on the design of Curiosity, the machine that is tirelessly searching for life on Earth's neighboring planet. It possesses the latest technology created by humans.

A device called “MOXIE” will help the probe create oxygen from CO2 in the Martian atmosphere. Scientists assert that creating oxygen on the surface of the red planet is an important link that humans need to achieve if we want to set foot on Mars. It will provide oxygen for astronauts or fuel rockets to bring humans back to Earth.

In addition, the robot also carries a 3D camera to create the most realistic images of Mars. Two robotic arms help it analyze the chemical composition and structure of soil and rocks on Mars. A radar will delve deeper into the geological structure of Mars thanks to its ability to research underground.

Opportunity, one of the probes, traveled 40 km across the surface of Mars. It began studying the surface of the red planet shortly after landing in 2004.

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