"Future Mars Astronauts: Producing Rocket Fuel on the Red Planet Explained"

Scientists have proposed a method to produce oxygen on Mars using electrolysis, which could potentially generate 3 kilograms of oxygen per hour. The process involves compressing and heating carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere, running electricity through the molecules to split out oxygen atoms, and then cooling the oxygen into a liquid. If operated for a typical 14-month mission, astronauts could create about 30 metric tons of oxygen, enough to break free of Martian surface gravity. This method could be crucial for future crewed missions to Mars.