Harnessing the Sun to Extract Oxygen on the Moon

Light shines on a solar concentrator in this Aug. 7, 2025, test photo. The device is part of the Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project, which aims to produce oxygen from simulated lunar regolith for use at the Moon’s south pole.

For the test, the team integrated the solar concentrator with mirrors and control software and confirmed production of carbon monoxide. If deployed on the Moon, the technology could enable propellant production using only lunar materials and sunlight, reducing the cost and complexity of sustaining a long-term human presence on the lunar surface.

The same downstream systems used to convert carbon monoxide into oxygen can be adapted to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and methane on Mars. The CaRD project was funded by the Game Changing Development Program, which advances technologies for future space missions and solutions to significant national needs.

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