An international team of scientists has developed a new plasma-based way to produce oxygen on Mars. Such a system could play an important role in the development of the life support system for future colonies on the Red Planet, reports Scitechdaily..

The Martian atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, which can be broken down to produce oxygen, and the pressure is favorable to ignite the plasma.. This makes the conditions of the Red Planet almost ideal for using plasma here..

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There are two big obstacles in the way of obtaining oxygen on Mars..

“First, the decomposition of carbon dioxide molecules to extract oxygen. This molecule is very difficult to destroy. Secondly, the separation of the resulting oxygen from the gas mixture, which also contains, for example, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. We consider these two steps in an integrated manner to solve both problems at the same time.. This is where plasma can help,” said Vasco Guerra of the University of Lisbon, one of the authors of the study..

Plasma, the fourth natural state of matter, contains free charged particles such as electrons and ions.. Electrons are easily accelerated to very high speeds by electric fields.

“When the bullet-like electrons collide with a carbon dioxide molecule, they can directly decompose it or transfer energy to make it vibrate.”. This energy can be directed to a large extent to the decomposition of carbon dioxide.. Together with our colleagues in France and the Netherlands, we experimentally demonstrated the validity of these theories.. In addition, the heat generated in the plasma is also useful for the release of oxygen,” said Guerra..

Oxygen is very important for creating a breathable environment.. In addition, it is the starting point for the production of fuel and fertilizer for the future of Martian agriculture.. Future missions will require local fuel production. All of them are critical to the future of human settlement on Mars..

Plasma technology, which allows the splitting of carbon dioxide molecules, could also be useful on Earth to combat global warming..