NASA’s Perseverance rover split CO2 to make breathable air on Mars

The experiment also shows that astronauts can make rocket fuel for their trip back to Earth

a person in a clean suit maneuvers a gold-colored cube

The MOXIE instrument, shown here being lowered into the Mars Perseverance rover while still on Earth, is a small “electrical tree” that converts carbon dioxide into oxygen on Mars.

JPL-Caltech/NASA

NASA’s Perseverance rover just created a breath of fresh air on Mars.