The proposal indicates the use of NASA technology called “MOXIE” (Mars Oxigen In situ Experiment), a device that allows producing oxygen in the Martian atmosphere itself.

A few months ago NASA, exploring the surface of Mars, found methane in the air, a gas in the earth that is linked to the existence of life. Although there is no total certainty of the existence of living beings on the red planet, there are studies that indicate how to generate oxygen on Mars. This was announced by Natalia Aguirre and Sebastián Olivares, graduates of the Mining Civil Engineering career of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of La Serena, who were awarded "Green Mars" in a national contest organized by the Technical University Federico Santa María, the College of Engineers of Chile AG and the Chilean Association of Space AG (ACHIDE).

The professionals stood out with solutions for obtaining water, air, food and energy on the red planet. The project contemplated 3 proposals for obtaining oxygen. Natalia Aguirre explained that “by means of a greenhouse system, CO2 can enter from the Martian atmosphere and then the O2 is extracted. NASA MOXIE technology could also be used, a device to generate oxygen through the electrolysis of water”.

In relation to food on Mars, Sebastián Olivares indicated that “to feed the crew members, the consumption of vegetables generated in the greenhouse is proposed. This is a fundamental piece of the proposal since oxygen and nutrition depend on its functioning, and for this you need soil suitable for plant life, since the planet Mars is not suitable because it has perchlorates, but it can be solved by diluting it. ”.

For the crew's settlement, Natalia Aguirre specified that “it was decided to go to the North, near the Korolev crater, which has a good source of water in the form of ice. In addition, it was suggested that the settlement was inside craters in the twilight zone to protect from space radiation, and thus obtain water from the ice of the Korolev Crater and a second way is to generate it through the Sabatier reaction.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Ing. Mauricio Godoy, pointed out that “we are very proud of our former students and the presentation of this great project. We train professionals, but without a doubt, thanks to their great abilities and perseverance, they are proposing to the world today. I congratulate you and urge you to continue working and fulfilling your goals; and at the same time, indicate that as a Faculty we have the doors open to support graduates who require it”.

The award ceremony for the activity took place at the National Aeronautical and Space Museum, as part of the ceremony that celebrated the 50th anniversary of man's arrival on the Moon.

NASA Technology

The proposal also indicates the use of NASA technology called "MOXIE" (Mars Oxygen In situ Experiment), which is a device to produce oxygen in the same Martian atmosphere from the abundant carbon dioxide (96%). With a power of 300 watts and a production rate of 10 grams per hour, the “MOXIE” collects CO2, compresses it and puts it through an electrochemical process at more than 800 degrees to produce oxygen by electrolysis.

Written by María José Barraza, FIULS 2030 Project