NASA Extracts Oxygen from Moon Dirt Simulation.
NASA scientists have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment for the first time, using a high-powered laser that simulated heat from a solar energy concentrator. The test was conducted inside a special chamber that recreated conditions similar to those found on the Moon. The process of heating the soil and extracting the oxygen took place inside a carbothermal reactor, which uses high temperatures to produce carbon monoxide or dioxide on Earth. Creating oxygen on the Moon could help support lunar habitats for future astronauts as NASA and other space agencies strive to establish a sustainable presence on and around the surface of Earth’s satellite.