Non-motoring > Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars	Company Cars
Thread Author: No FM2R	Replies: 46

New Thu 22 Apr 21 14:44   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

Clearly we didn't learn much from the first planet we messed up. Mars' atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide (CO₂) at a concentration of 96%. Oxygen is only 0.13%, compared with 21% in Earth's atmosphere. Moxie is able to strip oxygen atoms from CO₂ molecules, which are made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. The waste product is carbon monoxide, which is vented to the Martian atmosphere. www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56844601 Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 16:58   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - bathtub tom

>> Clearly we didn't learn much from the first planet we messed up. The first? Aren't we all descended from the Golgafrincham Ark Fleet Ship B? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 17:48   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - CGNorwich

I don't think a few grams of carbon monoxide is going to be to be much of a problem. What a fantastic success this mission is truning out to be. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 17:54   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

Don't be silly, of course a few grammes are not going to make of a difference. A few highly polluting Ford Model-Ts didn't make much of a difference either. THe mission is great, and seemingly successful and setting a tone for the future. And a tiny amount of pollution doesn't change that. That tone may turn out to be an issue though. Still, maybe we can just say it's not a problem because there's not much of it, it'll be years before it is a problem, and who cares anyway, let's just focus on the short term. Because that's always worked out so well. Just how short-sighted can some people be. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 20:13   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - CGNorwich

So what exactly are you saying. That the Mars mission shouldn't introduce "pollution" to Mars because its the thin end of the wedge? At least carbon monoxide occurs naturally in the Martian atmosphere. The whole spacecraft could actually be considered pollution imported from another world. it contiains all sorts of stuff that wouldn't be found on the surface of Mars, Five kilos of plutonioum for example. If we are to explore another world it is inevitable that somehow we will change it in some way or other. Its an interesting ethical problem. Supposing we were to introduce some sort of life to a previously life-less panet would we be justified in doing so? If it were psossible to change the atmosphere sufficiently to support human life and colonise the palnet would that be justified? Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 20:20   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

>>So what exactly are you saying. Don't worry about it, no sense in torturing yourself with something so obviously beyond you. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 23:06   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - CGNorwich

I'm sorry. I thought this was a discussion forum. Clearly its just for gratuitous insults. I shall not trouble you further. Oh and by the way the percentage of Carbon Monoxide in the Martian atmosphere is at 0.06% slightly above that in the Earth's atmosphere Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 23:21   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

>> I shall not trouble you further. You tease, you. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 22 Apr 21 21:55   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

>>At least carbon monoxide occurs naturally in the Martian atmosphere. p.s., as if it matters, I suspect that you have your mons and your dis confused. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 10:54   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Lygonos

>>p.s., as if it matters, I suspect that you have your mons and your dis confused Doesn't look like he has - ~700ppm CO in Martian atmosphere compared to 0.15ppm on Earth. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 14:21   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

I did not know that. It doesn't alter my main point though; we seem to be littering space with garbage and now our beginnings on another planet commence with an approach that will eventually have a material polluting effect. Not that I know what the answer is, but that doesn't sound like a good one. Or at least, not a long term one. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 15:01   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Zero

> we seem to be littering space with garbage A very good friend of mine is the UK's premier expert on space junk, primarily in earth orbit to be fair, - I call him Steptoe. He also wrote some big chunks of NASA's mars helicopter control software. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 16:04   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Lygonos

>>we seem to be littering space with garbage There's certainly a fair bit of metal whirling around the planet with more added on a monthly basis. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:30   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

Yeah, I've found myself wondering, why, when a great big fast space rocket goes up there, that it doesn't crash into some of the junk floating about? Almost certainly a silly question, my apologies for that, but it bothers me in my quieter moments. Anyone know? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:37   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

1) It's a big space so it is unlikely 2) It happens though Most larger pieces are mapped and tracked to enable avoidance.. Last edited by: No FM2R on Fri 23 Apr 21 at 17:37 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:38   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

From those more expert than I..... www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:39   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

You wouldn't want to let Z drive one though would you? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:43   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

I wouldn't trust Zero with a remote control for the television, never mind driving a space craft. Still, no junctions in space, I guess. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:50   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

Yeah, I mean, if you're doing 17,500 mph and a satellite steps out in front of you or whatever, you'd have to be on your toes alright. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 17:57   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

You mean his super duper bestest ever BMW doesn't have an automatic forcefield? How crap is that. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 18:26   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

Pretty sure it wasn't an option on the beige ones anyway. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 20:19   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Zero

well at least the beemer can get to escape velocity, more than some lardy assed low power merc can do, as for a Fix it Again Toni jeep - forget it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 22:45   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Duncan

>> I wouldn't trust Zero with a remote control for the television, never mind driving a >> space craft. >> >> Still, no junctions in space, I guess. >> Or buses. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 23 Apr 21 19:35   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - BiggerBadderDave

"crash into some of the junk floating about? Almost certainly a silly question..." Well, I've always wondered (in the Star Trek universe) why don't don't they just always keep the status "raise shields"? I would never drop them with all this debris everywhere. And... "1) It's a big space so it is unlikely" Yes, very true, but (in the Star Trek universe) they are always orbiting some planet that are advanced enough to be polluting the planet with space junk. Isn't it true that most accidents happen close to home? Last edited by: BiggerBadderDave on Fri 23 Apr 21 at 19:37 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 02:34   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

>>why don't they just always keep the status "raise shields"? I seem to recall that it was because they couldn't transport through the shields. But you would have thought "shields up unless we're using the transporters" ought to be the default state. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:16   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

Yeah, but it's probably all about range anxiety. Drains the batteries y'see, and you try finding somewhere to charge up all the way out there. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:21   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

.....they could turn the radio and aircon off, though (...and "doors to manual" of course... ;-) ) Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:20   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Zero

>> >>why don't they just always keep the status "raise shields"? >> >> I seem to recall that it was because they couldn't transport through the shields. >> >> But you would have thought "shields up unless we're using the transporters" ought to be >> the default state. And you can't go at Warp speed, only impulse power with the shields up. Why? Because "The engines cannae take it captain". What is it with Jocks and small engines? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:22   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

....I wonder what the Enterprise's turning circle is..... Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:31   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

Doesn't matter unless they're going to try it in Herne Bay in the dark outside the chippy. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:38   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

..it's a bit tight outside the Costa on Alpha Centauri, though... (Those Klingons will insist on parking untidily). Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:40   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

There's a loose kerbstone there that catches a lot of them out I've heard. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 08:49   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

...it wasn't loose once, but it is now..... Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 23:40   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

>> What is it with Jocks and small engines? Less to prove I'd think. You know what they say, "long bonnet, short gearstick" sort of thing... ;-)) Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 23:52   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

How much are you hoping right now that his BMW has got a longer bonnet than your Merc? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 23:56   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - Runfer D'Hills

:-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 24 Apr 21 23:59   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

I guess I better go and buy a Smartcar. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 25 Apr 21 07:44   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - legacylad

>> Isn't it true that most accidents happen close to home? >> That’s what my mum has previously told me.... :-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 25 Apr 21 08:54   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

..was that just before she told you to put clean underpants on if you were going out.....? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 18:21   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

Fascinating that this is happening on another planet so far away. www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56912808 Wish I was there, or would one day have an opportunity to be there. As far as I am aware that is the only thing that will be remaining on my bucket list when I die. Last edited by: No FM2R on Wed 28 Apr 21 at 18:21 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 18:22   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

On a more sombre note.... Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins dies at 90 www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56921562 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 18:30   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

>> >> Wish I was there, or would one day have an opportunity to be there. As >> far as I am aware that is the only thing that will be remaining on >> my bucket list when I die. >> ...well, we could all club together to send your ashes. It'd be worth it to see you become part of the pollution you complained about up-thread... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 19:50   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

Not much point doing it when I'm dead. Because I'd be dead. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 19:53   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

...er, OK. We'll club together to send your ashes up before you're dead.... Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 19:57   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

If you can do that, then I'm up for it. But it has to be before I'm dead. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 19:58   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - tyrednemotional

...will still warm do.....? Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 28 Apr 21 21:02   Nasa's rover makes breathable oxygen on Mars - No FM2R

I don't know. It depends if I lose any awareness. Reply to this message | Report message