Where does the oxygen in space come from? Will someone deliver oxygen to the astronauts at a fixed time?

As we all know, oxygen is the most important key substance in life. If it is left without oxygen for too long, it will not be able to maintain the normal operation of life. Those who are going to work on the space station need oxygen even more in a completely vacuum universe. However, each rocket has a limited load capacity and cannot carry a large amount of oxygen. So what do the staff on the space station rely on? To maintain life needs?

Hello everyone, I am Mr. Bai. Let’s talk about where the oxygen in space comes from.

As of now, there are only two space stations operating in the universe in the world. One is the Tiangong series independently built by China, and the other is jointly built by six Western countries including the United States and Japan. The International Space Station is currently the largest space station. For now, although only staff members visit China's space station regularly, it is expected that after the space station is completely constructed in 2022, there will be permanent residents in the space station. After the successful trial of the International Space Station in 2000, three staff members were successfully sent in and docked.

Each astronaut consumes an average of 0.9 kilograms of oxygen every day in space, and at the same time emits nearly 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide. For those astronauts who have to survive in the space station for months or even years, For members, the amount of oxygen required is greater, so where does this oxygen come from? Will someone deliver oxygen to the astronauts at a fixed time?

Before each rocket launch, the staff will first arrange a portion of oxygen in the rocket to ensure the amount of oxygen used during the journey from launch to entry into the space station. Some people say, why not just let the rocket carry a large number of oxygen bottles into the space station. You know, although it is convenient to bring oxygen directly, the cost will become very high. What's more, each rocket has a limited weight. Carrying a large amount of oxygen into the sky will not only increase the weight of the rocket, but also occupy space. The fuel space of the rocket is not worth the loss.

The oxygen that humans breathe every day on the ground is not pure oxygen. It contains oxygen and a certain concentration of carbon dioxide, which are necessary to maintain the acid-base balance of the human body. And if you want to carry oxygen into the space station, then the oxygen carried at this time is pure oxygen. Except for patients with gas poisoning, people cannot directly inhale pure oxygen, and as a flammable gas, the combustion of any object is inseparable from oxygen. If the rocket is lifted off or the transport device is moving toward If an accident occurs during the transportation of oxygen to the space station, the consequences will be disastrous. In the last century, the Soviet Union burned to death elite human astronauts during a simulation experiment. The same disaster also occurred in the United States during a simulation experiment, claiming the lives of three very outstanding astronauts at the time.

In order to prevent this disaster from happening, scientists are constantly conducting experiments. First of all, the oxygen transported to the space station is not just pure oxygen, but a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, in which oxygen accounts for a slightly larger proportion than nitrogen. As an inert gas, nitrogen is colorless, odorless and inactive. Its proportion in the air accounts for 70%. And the most important thing is that nitrogen is non-flammable and can prevent combustion and prevent excessive reaction during oxidation reaction. It was so violent that the astronauts had no time to deal with emergencies. Secondly, sensors that detect smoke, light or heat are also distributed in the space station to detect fire. When a fire is detected, the astronauts will immediately put on special oxygen masks to isolate the oxygen in the space and prevent the fire. Spread to ensure the safety of yourself and the space station.

Since transporting oxygen is dangerous and costly, how do astronauts maintain breathing in the space station?

The International Space Station initially chose to bring compressed air up, but the oxygen brought up in this way must rely on an oxygen mask to breathe. In this case, we need to solve the problem from the root cause. Carrying oxygen is dangerous and difficult. Then produce oxygen directly on the space station.

As the saying goes, if you learn physics well, you will not be afraid of traveling all over the world. Our country's method of producing oxygen in the space station relies on electrolysis of water, which refers to the process in which water is electrolyzed by direct current to generate hydrogen and oxygen. As long as there is enough fresh water, the problem of oxygen supply will be easy. One liter of water can be decomposed to produce approximately 620 liters of oxygen, which can supply an astronaut for a day. In addition, scientists combine the characteristics of using hydrogen and oxygen combustion to generate power in a thermal power system, propelling liquid oxygen into solid lithium perchlorate in rocket fuel, and igniting it to generate liquid oxygen as oxygen backup. Each time a tank is generated, It can also meet the oxygen needs of an astronaut for a day.

Some people are also confused. Since the cost of transporting oxygen to the space station is also high, then of the same quality of water and air, isn’t water heavier than air? Yes, it costs more to send fresh water to the space station, so in the space station, the water used by astronauts is recycled, including their urine, sweat, and domestic water, all within this recycling range. For example, the sweat produced by astronauts, after evaporating into the atmosphere in the cabin, will be condensed through a filtering device and then put into use; the urine produced will become water after special treatment to remove the odor, and this water can be used. Used to complete the process of electrolyzing water to produce oxygen for breathing.

Therefore, the International Space Station has been floating in the universe for more than ten years as we have seen. Oxygen is indeed inexhaustible, of course, provided that water is available and sufficient.

From the dragon entering the sea to the Shenzhou flying into the sky, from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to the giant astronomical telescope, the rapid changes in science and technology have left China’s presence in the vast universe and even the vast and deep seabed. China is able to gallop on the road of rapid development not only because of changes in the world situation, but also because of the struggle and tempering of its revolutionary ancestors. China's space station will take the initiative to open up to the world, promote the joint use of the space station by mankind, explore outer space, and promote new development of human aerospace industry.

Outer space is a common wealth for all mankind. I believe that one day we will also be able to reach the space station and appreciate the vastness of the universe.

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