NASA tests solar powered system to extract oxygen from lunar soil

NASA and its partners have tested a prototype that uses concentrated sunlight to release oxygen from simulated lunar surface material, marking a step toward supporting future human settlements on the Moon.

The effort is part of NASA’s Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration project, known as CaRD. Lunar soil contains oxygen bound within mineral compounds. The CaRD system uses a large mirror to concentrate sunlight and generate intense heat inside a reactor. Carbon is introduced in the process to help release oxygen from the material.

During testing, the prototype produced carbon monoxide using solar heat. That carbon monoxide can then be processed further to create pure oxygen gas and fuel. NASA said the system could enable production of propellant using only lunar materials and sunlight, potentially reducing the cost of missions to the Moon.

The European Space Agency is supporting a small payload designed to extract between 50 and 100 grams of oxygen per day using solar power. ESA engineers note that lunar soil contains 40 to 45 percent oxygen by weight. In laboratory experiments, they heat moon dust with molten salt and apply electricity to release oxygen.

Australia is partnering with NASA to launch a rover that will collect lunar soil for use in NASA’s oxygen production system.

Private companies are also developing solutions. Blue Origin is working on a system called Blue Alchemist that would use solar power to melt moon dust before electrolysis separates oxygen, leaving metals behind.

These developments aim to support long term lunar exploration and habitation.