NASA’s Mars 2020 rover mission to have MOXIE to generate Oxygen on Mars

The US space agency NASA has decided to put MOXIE – Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment as one of the payloads on the Mars 2020 rover mission. MOXIE will produce oxygen on MARS using the Martian atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). NASA will launch the Mars 2020 rover mission in July or August 2020. The conversion of CO₂ into Oxygen will be beneficial for human respiration. The oxygen can be used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel for return mission. If this experiment is successful it will make future manned missions easier.
MOXIE is among the seven selected instruments that will be sent on Mars mission with a view to determine the potential habitability of the Mars environment, and directly search for signs of early Martian life.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2014

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs