Red nation on the red planet? This country's latest venture could be key to human activity on Mars

Chinese researchers have created an AI robot that can create oxygen on Mars

By Jon Michael Raasch Fox News

Published November 15, 2023 4:30pm EST

A robotic space chemist could create oxygen on Mars using materials from the planet's surface, Chinese researchers behind the project say.

Chinese researchers have created an AI robot that can create oxygen on Mars

A refrigerator-sized machine equipped with artificial intelligence and a robotic arm broke down material from five meteorites and analyzed it to identify a chemical formula that creates a substance that can cause oxygen to separate from water. Researchers said it would have taken a human 2,000 years to find that formula.

"Oxygen supply must be the top priority for any human activity on Mars, because rocket propellants and life support systems consume substantial amounts of oxygen, which cannot be replenished from the Martian atmosphere," the researchers wrote. "Here we demonstrate a robotic artificial-intelligence chemist for automated synthesis and intelligent optimization of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction from Martian meteorites."

Creating oxygen from Martian materials and ice would remove the need for astronauts to bring oxygen-creating supplies to the planet from Earth. Further, a robotic chemist could eliminate the need for humans to oversee the processes.

"We have developed a robotic AI system that has a chemistry brain," said University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei scientist Jun Jiang, who led the study. "We think our machine can make use of compounds in Martian ores without human guidance."

This was not the first experiment to test how to create oxygen on Mars.

NASA's Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars

NASA's rover, Perseverance, carried an experimental device nicknamed MOXIE that has successfully produced oxygen 16 different times from the Martian atmosphere since 2021, according to the agency. MOXIE produced over 120 grams of oxygen in total, enough to keep a small dog alive for 10 hours.

"There’s zero obstacle to scaling this up," Michael Hect, the head of MOXIE told Nature, adding "you can produce two to three kilograms an hour."

Each astronaut aboard the International Space Station needs about 840 grams of oxygen a day to survive, according to NASA.

China's Mars rover, Zhurong, is seen near its landing platform during a mission to the planet in 2021

Meanwhile, Jiang said his robot could form more than just oxygen.

"Different chemicals can be made by this robot," he said, noting that it could create a method to produce plant fertilizer.

"Maybe lunar soil is another direction," Jiang added.

Red nation on the red planet? This country's latest venture could be key to human activity on Mars

红色星球上的红色国家？这个国家的最新项目可能是人类在火星上活动的关键

Chinese researchers have created an AI robot that can create oxygen on Mars

中国研究人员制造出了可以在火星上制造氧气的AI机器人

A robotic space chemist could create oxygen on Mars using materials from the planet's surface, Chinese researchers behind the project say.

中国的研究人员称其项目的机器人太空化学家可以利用火星表面的材料在火星上制造氧气。

A refrigerator-sized machine equipped with artificial intelligence and a robotic arm broke down material from five meteorites and analyzed it to identify a chemical formula that creates a substance that can cause oxygen to separate from water. Researchers said it would have taken a human 2,000 years to find that formula.

一个冰箱大小的机器，配备有人工智能和一个机械臂，分解了来自五个小行星的材料并进行分析，发现了一种化学公式，可以产生一种让氧气从水中分离的物质。研究人员称人类需要2000年时间才能发现这一公式。

"Oxygen supply must be the top priority for any human activity on Mars, because rocket propellants and life support systems consume substantial amounts of oxygen, which cannot be replenished from the Martian atmosphere," the researchers wrote. "Here we demonstrate a robotic artificial-intelligence chemist for automated synthesis and intelligent optimization of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction from Martian meteorites."

“氧气的供应对于人类在火星上的活动是最重要的，因为火箭推进剂和生命的支持系统都需要消耗大量的氧气，这是无法从火星的大气层中获取的”，研究人员写道，“在这里，我们展示一个机器人工智能化学家，可以用于火星矿石氧反应催化剂的自动合成和智能优化”。

Creating oxygen from Martian materials and ice would remove the need for astronauts to bring oxygen-creating supplies to the planet from Earth. Further, a robotic chemist could eliminate the need for humans to oversee the processes.

利用火星上的材料和冰制造氧气可以让宇航员不再需要从地球上把制氧设备带过去，而且机器人化学家可以免去人们监管的过程。

"We have developed a robotic AI system that has a chemistry brain," said University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei scientist Jun Jiang, who led the study. "We think our machine can make use of compounds in Martian ores without human guidance."

“我们开发了一个拥有化学头脑的机器人AI系统”，该研究的主管，位于合肥的中国科学技术大学科学家姜军说道，“我认为我们的机器可以在没有人类指导的情况下利用火星矿石中的化合物”。

This was not the first experiment to test how to create oxygen on Mars.

这不是第一次试验来测试如何在火星上制造氧气。

NASA's rover, Perseverance, carried an experimental device nicknamed MOXIE that has successfully produced oxygen 16 different times from the Martian atmosphere since 2021, according to the agency. MOXIE produced over 120 grams of oxygen in total, enough to keep a small dog alive for 10 hours.

据NASA称，其漫游者毅力号，携带着绰号为MOXIE的实验设备，自从2021年开始，成功的从火星大气中制造出氧气16次。MOXIE总共制造了超过120g的氧气，足够一条小狗生存10小时。

"There’s zero obstacle to scaling this up," Michael Hect, the head of MOXIE told Nature, adding "you can produce two to three kilograms an hour."

“对于扩大规模没有任何困难”，MOXIE主管Michael Hect告诉《自然》杂志，“可以一小时制造两三千克都没问题”。

Each astronaut aboard the International Space Station needs about 840 grams of oxygen a day to survive, according to NASA.

根据NASA，每一个登入国际空间站的宇航员每天大约需要氧气840克。

Meanwhile, Jiang said his robot could form more than just oxygen.

同时，姜说他的机器人不仅仅能够制造氧气，还能制造其他的东西。

"Different chemicals can be made by this robot," he said, noting that it could create a method to produce plant fertilizer.

他说，“该机器人可以制造出不同的化学物质”，他还指出它可以创造出生产植物肥料的方法。

"Maybe lunar soil is another direction," Jiang added.

“可能月球的土壤是另外一个方向”，姜补充道。