In the Netherlands, scientists have created an experimental “oxygen plant” that can remove oxygen from lunar dust. The raw material used is an artificial analogue of lunar dust, which consists of 40-45% oxygen.
Based on samples of lunar rocks returned to Earth during the Apollo missions, scientists know that the lunar soil or regolith contains about 40-45 percent oxygen.
Oxygen extracted from the moon is not only used by humans as a vital substance, but can also be used as one of the components of rocket fuel, such as hydrogen. The presence of “oxygen factories” on the surface of the moon would allow scientists to turn the moon into a station from which it would be cheaper to send missions to Mars and outer space.
The ultimate goal of the project is to create a device that will be able to work on the moon and produce oxygen from the moon dust. Scientists are actively working on the project and it is possible to see the device on the moon in 10/15 years.
Source used://bit.ly/3lS9Up5
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