Chinese astronauts claim to synthesise oxygen and rocket fuel in space artificially

A team of Chinese astronauts have claimed a major breakthrough in space technology by successfully synthesising rocket fuel in space using a process known as “artificial photosynthesis."  

This achievement, part of the Shenzhou-19 mission on board the Tiangong Space Station, has garnered significant attention as it could pave the way for sustainable space exploration by producing essential resources like oxygen and rocket fuel directly from the in-situ environment of space, as per a report by the South China Morning Post.  

A new approach to resource production in space

The astronauts on the Shenzhou-19 mission used semiconductor catalysts to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and ethylene—a hydrocarbon commonly used in spacecraft propellants. According to state broadcaster CCTV, this process mimics the natural photosynthesis of plants but is engineered using physical and chemical methods to work in the confined, microgravity environment of space.  

The successful production of oxygen and rocket fuel could be a vital step in ensuring long-term human survival and exploration of space, especially for future missions to the Moon or Mars.

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This process could enable astronauts to rely on resources found in space, such as carbon dioxide, to produce the fuel and oxygen needed for extended missions. By utilising in-situ resources, future space explorers could reduce their dependency on supplies from Earth, making long-term missions more feasible.

Sustainable space exploration

The innovation marks a significant departure from previous methods of oxygen production used on the International Space Station (ISS), where electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, powered by solar panels.  

While effective, electrolysis is energy-intensive and would not be practical for long-distance missions, such as those to the Moon or Mars. According to experts, the artificial photosynthesis method developed by China’s space program works efficiently at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure, reducing the energy required for these processes

The new technology opens up possibilities for resource independence in space. In addition to producing oxygen and rocket fuel, the system can be adjusted to create various products, such as methane for propulsion or formic acid for synthesising sugars. This versatility is key to ensuring that astronauts can manufacture the resources they need while in space, making missions to distant planets more viable.

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Major step for China

China’s successful demonstration of artificial photosynthesis positions the country at the forefront of sustainable space technology. The technology is not only crucial for the survival of astronauts but also for the broader goal of enabling long-term space exploration and habitation.  

By being able to generate oxygen and fuels directly from space, China has made a major breakthrough for humanity to live and work in space without relying on Earth-bound supplies. The technology is also seen as a critical step towards achieving resource independence in extraterrestrial environments, which will be essential for any future interplanetary colonisation efforts.

With plans to continue upgrading the technology in orbit, China’s space agency hopes to further refine the process and explore other catalytic reactions that could support future space missions. This breakthrough sets the stage for more sustainable space technologies that could play a pivotal role in human space exploration for years to come.