# 141. Breathing on Mars: MOXIE's Astounding Success

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-09-26
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success-Y_CbxUg1

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss the successful results of MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment), a NASA JPL and MIT-led project that generated oxygen from the Martian atmosphere. The experiment, attached to the Perseverance Rover, exceeded its targets by producing 12 grams of oxygen per hour with 98% purity, utilizing solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs) developed by startup Oxion Energy. The hosts highlight how this proof-of-concept validates the feasibility of producing rocket fuel and breathable air on Mars, paving the way for future human exploration and return missions.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=0) Introduction: MOXIE's Final Results and Sponsor Read
- [4:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=272) MOXIE's Purpose: Generating Oxygen for Rocket Fuel and Life Support
- [7:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=423) Technical Operation: Electrolysis and Martian Atmospheric Challenges
- [9:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=578) Performance Results: 12g/hour Output and 98% Purity
- [12:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=763) Future Scaling: From Experiment to Industrial-Scale Production
- [15:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-09-26-141-breathing-on-mars-moxies-astounding-success#t=946) Key Contributors: MIT, NASA JPL, and Oxion Energy

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MOXIE (product)
- NASA JPL (company)
- Perseverance Rover (product)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Oxion Energy (company)
- MIT (company)
- Caltech (company)

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- [Clean Hydrogen on Demand with Max Mankin, CTO and Co-founder of Modern Electron, and Mothusi Pahl, Vice President of Business Development at Modern Electron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-10-27-clean-hydrogen-on-demand-with-max-mankin-cto-and-co-founder-of-modern-electron-a) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
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- [Ep026: Tamper-Proof Electronics, Selfie Drones, Rocket Fuel, Wire Benders, Wizard-Level Soldering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-07-12-ep026-tamper-proof-electronics-selfie-drones-rocket-fuel-wire-benders-wizard-lev) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 255: Balloon on the Moon, Nanotech Goblets, and USB All the Way](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-02-02-ep-255-balloon-on-the-moon-nanotech-goblets-and-usb-all-the-way) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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