The development of nearby planets is a prioritytask of modern astronautics. However, colonization requires a constant supply of oxygen, the delivery of which from the Earth is an expensive and time-consuming method. Therefore, scientists are actively looking for sources of supply of air necessary for the respiration of the colonists and the creation of a local ecosystem. The European Space Agency (ESA) has identified an original way to produce oxygen for astronauts heading to explore the moon. Oxygen can be generated directly from moon dust, which is already 40-45% oxygen.
Methodology for producing oxygen from moon dust -regolith is quite simple. In the first step, the regolith is mixed with molten calcium chloride (CaCl2). At the second stage, the mixture is heated to 950 degrees Celsius and an electrical voltage is applied to it.
The electrolysis of molten salt is accompanied by oxygen evolution. This method of extraction has a fairly high efficiency: from three tons of moon dust one ton of oxygen is obtained.
During the reaction, oxygen suitableboth for the breath of the colonists, and for the production of rocket fuel. In this case, metal alloys that can be used to create structures for lunar stations become a byproduct of the reaction.
Source: ESA