Plasma will help the Martian colonists in obtaining oxygen.

The Martian atmosphere has the conditions for obtaining oxygen from atmospheric carbon dioxide with the help of low-temperature plasma.

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Due to the insufficient carrying capacity of existing launch vehicles, engineers involved in the development of future manned missions to Mars are trying to minimize the mass of the spacecraft as much as possible. To do this, they work in several directions, one of which is the development of technologies that allow obtaining the necessary materials and energy on the site, from the resources of the investigated planet. At the same time, obviously, oxygen is one of the most important substances necessary for cosmonauts.

The researchers proposed to receive oxygen on Mars not by water electrolysis, but to decompose carbon dioxide with low-temperature plasma. The fact is that the Martian atmosphere is 95 percent carbon dioxide. The researchers conducted the simulation, and found that the decomposition of CO2 into CO and oxygen under pressure and temperatures corresponding to the Martian atmosphere is much more effective than under terrestrial conditions.

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Researchers also compared this technology with a similar MOXIE project, within which it is planned to create an electrolysis cell based on solid oxides that will produce oxygen from carbon dioxide. According to scientists, low-temperature plasma can achieve the same level of output.

Scientists and engineers are also preparing other technologies for future manned missions to explore Mars. Recently, the researchers conducted an experiment to grow potatoes in conditions close to the Martian ones. It turned out that the potato tubers can grow in such conditions, however, the authors of the experiment did not mention their suitability for food. They also learned how to print instruments from a material consisting of an artificial regolith on a 3D printer.

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