Scientists are already making all kinds of preparations for a manned mission on Mars, and are even hoping that, one day, we would be able to establish a human colony on the Red Planet. One big challenge astronauts need to overcome is to find a stable oxygen source, but a recent discovery might solve this problem. It seems the Martian conditions are suitable for producing the gas necessary to maintain life.
There lies a bright future ahead for the next manned mission on Mars
Scientists are actively looking for ways to make it easy for astronauts to go on Mars and establish colonies there. Now, they made another step forward by discovering the Martian conditions are nearly perfect for obtaining oxygen. This would be possible via a process called decomposition, which only requires carbon dioxide.
Usually, the decomposition of carbon dioxide is facilitated by plasmas which reach low temperatures, as the electrons in its composition make the process possible. In a new study, published in the journal Plasma Sources Science and Technology, researchers studied the temperature and pressure present in the atmosphere of Mars.
Mars houses the perfect conditions to obtain oxygen
The results showed Mars has the optimal conditions which allow the production of oxygen from a non-thermal plasma. By combining the atmosphere made up of 96 percent carbon dioxide and the low temperature, the electrons might read a higher vibration than they do on Earth. This way, the molecules of carbon dioxide have enough time to split into oxygen and carbon monoxide.
By embracing such a technology for the next mission to Mars, astronauts will be able to get a stable source of oxygen which can last for a longer period. However, this is not the only useful product of the decomposition process. The resulting carbon monoxide can work perfectly as rocket fuel.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Roxanne Briean
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