NASA Scientists Extract Oxygen from Lunar Soil in Vacuum Environment: NASA scientists have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment, which could pave the way for future human colonies on the Moon. The ability to extract oxygen from lunar soil is critical for delivering breathable air to astronauts, as well as propellant for transportation and space exploration.
April 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
The Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber:
NASA scientists developed a special spherical chamber known as the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber to recreate lunar conditions. This chamber has a 15-foot diameter and is designed to allow unclean samples to be tested inside. Inside the chamber, the vacuum environment is similar to that of the Moon, where there is no atmosphere and temperatures can range from -173°C to 127°C.
The Carbothermal Reactor:
Inside the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber, the scientists used a carbothermal reactor to extract the oxygen from the lunar soil simulant. The carbothermal reactor is a device that uses heat to break down materials into their constituent parts. In this case, the reactor was used to heat the lunar soil simulant to a temperature of 1,000°C, which caused it to melt.
High-Powered Laser:
To simulate the heat from a solar energy concentrator, the scientists used a high-powered laser to melt the lunar soil simulant. The laser was able to create a temperature of 1,000°C, which is similar to the temperature on the Moon’s surface when exposed to direct sunlight. This process is similar to the one used on Earth to create items like solar panels and steel.
April 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo):
After the lunar soil simulant was heated in the carbothermal reactor, the team used a device called Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) to detect carbon monoxide. The MSolo is an instrument that can measure the composition of gases in a sample. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of the carbothermal reaction and its detection indicated that the process was successful in extracting oxygen from the lunar soil simulant.
Future Missions to the Moon:
NASA intends to deploy identical instruments to the Moon’s South Pole on two forthcoming exploration missions: the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 in 2023 and the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) in November 2024. These missions will focus on the search for water and other resources on the Moon’s surface, which could be used to support future human colonies.
