Humanity will build a base on the moon. How to solve the oxygen problem?

The development of aerospace technology has allowed mankind to set foot on a brand new planet. As a satellite of the earth and the closest planet to the earth, the moon is naturally an important springboard for human exploration of the universe.

Countries and organizations around the world are planning to build long-term lunar bases on the moon. The lunar base can help humans escape the gravity of the earth and conduct many low-gravity experiments. In the future, the lunar base may also serve as the main place for rocket launches. The moon has no atmosphere and the gravitational effect is small, making rocket launches easier.

But when building a base on the moon, we first need to consider the living issues of the astronauts. Oxygen is a necessity for human survival. The lunar base must complete the production and circulation of oxygen on the moon. How would a lunar base produce water and oxygen?

As a planet, the moon does have a very thin gas layer on its surface. The thin gas cannot support astronauts’ breathing, and most of the oxygen is mixed in the floating dust on the moon’s surface. This makes The oxygen on the moon's surface is basically unusable.

Oxygen on the lunar surface cannot be used. Scientists have turned their attention to the lunar regolith. There are many rocks and minerals on the lunar surface. Silica, alumina, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide are the main components of lunar minerals. , oxygen molecules are present in these minerals.

To obtain oxygen from minerals, astronauts need to electrolyze the minerals. On Earth, electrolysis is often used to produce metals, and the by-product is oxygen; but on the moon, oxygen is the main product, and metals are the by-products that can be utilized.

Electrolysis of minerals in the lunar regolith can indeed produce more oxygen, but the electrolysis process requires a large amount of energy, and part of the electrolysis process requires melting the minerals into a liquid state. This energy is not necessary for the desolate moon. It is a huge challenge.

It is difficult to complete the electrolysis of minerals on the moon by relying solely on solar energy. The United States plans to conduct nuclear reactor experiments on the moon and build a nuclear power plant on the moon in the future to provide relatively sufficient energy for the lunar base.

According to scientists’ exploration of lunar regolith, each cubic meter of lunar regolith contains approximately 1.4 tons of electrolyzable minerals, which can produce 630 kilograms of oxygen, and astronauts need approximately 800 grams of oxygen every day. The electrolysis project of one cubic meter of lunar regolith can allow an astronaut to live for 2 years. Moon water resources can also provide oxygen:

The moon not only has mineral resources, but also rich water resources. The water resources of the moon have been confirmed by many exploration projects. Although the moon has no liquid water resources, However, the content of solid water resources is very abundant, and most of the water resources are concentrated in the polar regions and large craters.

The moon has water resources, and the feasibility of the lunar base has been greatly improved. The electrolysis of water can produce hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be used as energy, and oxygen can be supplied to astronauts.

The thickness of the lunar regolith is about 10 meters, plus the moon’s water resources. If astronauts extract oxygen from these materials, the total oxygen content will be enough to support 8 billion people breathing for 100,000 years. . Summary:

The moon is a barren planet, but on the surface of the moon, there are oxygen-rich minerals, and in the shadow of the moon, there are abundant solid water resources, which can provide astronauts with sufficient supplies. resources.

But when astronauts live on the moon, in addition to ensuring water and oxygen supply, they also need to consider food issues, energy issues, and safety issues. Therefore, the construction of the lunar base will still take a long time~

On Earth, human survival problems have been perfectly solved, but it is still full of challenges for humans to change another planet.

While scientists have not yet found a new home for mankind, the earth is still our "only home"!