Space
NASA's Lunar Oxygen Extraction Method Passes Critical Test Milestone
NASA's Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration project has successfully completed a major test of technology designed to extract oxygen from lunar soil. The breakthrough brings the space agency closer to producing breathable air and rocket fuel from resources found on the Moon's surface.
Key Takeaways
- NASA's CaRD project demonstrated oxygen extraction from simulated lunar soil using a solar concentrator
- The process heats regolith above 1,800°C to release oxygen through carbothermal reduction
- Local oxygen production could cut launch costs and enable sustainable lunar habitation
- A lunar surface test could happen during later Artemis missions in the early 2030s
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