NASA has successfully extracted molecular oxygen at a commercial scale from simulated lunar soil, a significant milestone that brings the agency closer to establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.
Researchers with NASA’s Exploration Research and Technology programs conduct molten regolith electrolysis testing inside Swamp Works at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Credit NASA/Kim Shiflett
The breakthrough was achieved at Swamp Works, a cutting-edge innovation hub within NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Collaborating with Houston-based Lunar Resources Inc. (LUNAR), NASA researchers used molten regolith electrolysis—a process that separates oxygen from lunar soil simulant, known as regolith—within a vacuum chamber replicating the Moon’s surface pressure.
“This is the first time NASA has produced molecular oxygen using this process,” said Dr. Annie Meier, project manager for molten regolith electrolysis. “The process is like using an elaborate cooking pot. Once sealed, we monitor the gases being released from the simulated soil.”
During the experiment, approximately 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of simulated lunar regolith were heated to 3,100°F (1,700°C) until they melted. An electric current was then passed through the molten material, successfully separating oxygen in gas form from the metals in the soil. The oxygen was captured for further study, while the leftover metals—potentially valuable for infrastructure—were preserved.
This achievement supports NASA’s broader goal of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), which involves using materials found on the Moon or other celestial bodies to support space missions, rather than relying solely on supplies brought from Earth. The ability to generate oxygen on the Moon not only enables breathable air for astronauts but also provides a critical component of rocket fuel, reducing the need for costly resupply missions.
“This unique chemical process can create the oxidizer for rocket fuel and extract metals essential for building infrastructure like solar panels, which could eventually power lunar bases,” said Evan Bell, lead for mechanical structures and mechatronics at NASA Kennedy.
The LR-1 reactor, developed by Lunar Resources Inc., was used alongside NASA’s advanced vacuum chamber for the test. The technology is designed for eventual deployment on the lunar surface, where robotic systems such as NASA’s ISRU Pilot Excavator could autonomously collect lunar soil and deliver it to reactors for processing.
The recent success builds on decades of research. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center began exploring molten regolith electrolysis reactors in the early 1990s. More recently, between 2019 and 2023, its Swamp Works team developed and tested the GaLORE (Gaseous Lunar Oxygen from Regolith Electrolysis) prototype under vacuum conditions. In parallel, NASA’s Johnson Space Center has also conducted related tests, such as removing carbon monoxide from simulated regolith.
This latest test not only validates the technology for use on the Moon but also opens pathways for adapting it to other planetary environments, including Mars. Engineers plan to refine the system and scale it for future missions, with the potential to support long-term human habitation and infrastructure on the Moon.
“This milestone further proves Kennedy Space Center’s role as a pioneer in spaceport capabilities—not just on Earth, but on the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” Bell added.
The project was funded by NASA’s Game Changing Development program under the Space Technology Mission Directorate and is part of the agency’s broader Exploration Research and Technology portfolio aimed at enabling human deep space exploration.
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