- The device has been designed by the University of Western Australia
A
contraption designed to generate the first breathable air on Mars has
reached the finals of a global competition to land experiments on the
red planet.
The
student-designed device, named Helena, could be flown on Mars One's
first unmanned lander mission, and arrive on the surface of Mars as
early as 2018.
The
Helena payload aims to demonstrate a key-life support technology for
humans, using electrolysis to produce oxygen from water extracted from
Martian soil.
 |
| The device will extract water from the Martian soil using electrolysis -
which is method of using a direct electric current (DC) to drive a
chemical reaction. |
Designed
by the University of Western Australia and Mars One astronaut
candidate, Josh Richards, Helena is one of ten finalists in the Mars One
University Competition.
Its
main piece of equipment is an electrolysis chamber that works alongside
a pressurising mechanism, oxygen sensor and pressure release valve.
The
device extracts water from the Martian soil using electrolysis - which
is method of using a direct electric current (DC) to drive a chemical
reaction.
Electrolysis will see the production of hydrogen and oxygen in their elemental state.
 |
| Electrolysis will see the production of hydrogen and oxygen in their
elemental state. The Helena, named after the Shakespearean heroine who
'breathed life into stone', uses electrolysis to produce oxygen from
water extracted from Martian soil. |
Helena will also carry a 'time capsule' in the form of a radiation-hardened DVD filled with messages and art by the public.
The
project, which is named after the Shakespearean heroine who 'breathed
life into stone', could be the first example of life-support technology
on the surface of Mars.
It
aims to refine technology that will allow humans to survive on the red
planet, before the arrival of the Mars One colonists in 2025.
'Our
experiment will hopefully pave the way to ensure the survival of the
elected astronauts on the red planet, as we attempt to produce oxygen
from Martian resources,' said Helena co-lead, Andre Van Vulpen.
'In addition
to the scientific contribution, we are hoping to put together the
largest crowd-sourced art collection ever sent to another planet,
allowing any Earth citizen the opportunity to join us on our trip to
Mars, and leave their legacy in truly 'out of this world' style.'
Other
entries include 'Cyano Knight', a German project that is aiming to
change a small amount of the 95 per cent carbon dioxide Mars atmosphere
into oxygen using cyanobacteria.
Another
entry from the UK will see a small greenhouse built on the red planet
to attempt to grow lettuce for astronauts in a pressurised environment.
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