How is oxygen made aboard a spacecraft?

On Earth, we have a constant supply of fresh air. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. These gases get recycled by plants through the process of photosynthesis. The plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It's a wonderful cycle on a vast scale. But what happens in the tiny, confined cabins of spacecraft, like the space shuttle or space stations?

Most spacecraft carry their own supply of oxygen with them and may have one backup system. However, the missions of these spacecraft last a short time, on the order of days to two weeks. In contrast, the International Space Station (ISS) was designed for long-term spaceflight and has been in orbit since 1998. So how is oxygen made aboard the ISS? It's handled in one of three ways, using oxygen generators, pressurized oxygen tanks or solid fuel oxygen generators (also called oxygen candles).

The primary method is accomplished by the oxygen generators: the Russian-made Elektron and the U.S. Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). The Elektron is located in the service module (Zvezda) and the ECLSS is located in the Destiny laboratory module. These devices make oxygen from water by a process called electrolysis, during which an electric current passes through water from one positively-charged electrode called an anode to another negatively-charged electrode called a cathode. There's a small concentration of salt in the water to conduct electricity because water itself is a poor electrical conductor. In the process, water gets split into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Here's how the chemistry of the process works:

At the cathode, a type of reaction called reduction occurs. Electrons (e^-) from the cathode combine with the water (H₂O) to make hydrogen gas (H₂) and hydroxide ions (OH^-): 2H₂O (l) + 2e^- ->H₂ (g) + 2 OH^- (aq).
At the anode, a type of reaction called oxidation occurs. Electrons get removed from water and flow into the anode. Removing the electrons from water yields oxygen gas (O₂) and hydrogen ions (H⁺): 2H₂O (l) -> O₂ (g) + 4 e^- + 4 H⁺

The electricity is generated by the station's solar panels and supplied to the oxygen generators through the station's power grid. The water gets delivered to the station from Earth by Progress supply ships and the space shuttle. Water also gets reclaimed by condensers that remove water vapor from the cabin air (astronauts exhale water vapor). Finally, water can be recycled from the astronauts' urine by the ECLSS unit. The hydrogen gas made in the electrolysis process gets vented into space and the oxygen gas is circulated into the cabin air.

Now let's look at the other ways by which the ISS makes oxygen.

Creating Oxygen Aboard the ISS

As you now know, getting oxygen aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is handled in one of three ways, using oxygen generators, pressurized oxygen tanks or solid fuel oxygen generators. On the previous page, we talked about the oxygen generators. Now, let's talk about the other two methods.

In the second method, oxygen is not made, but rather delivered to the ISS from Earth. When Progress supply ships, European automated transfer vehicles, or the U.S. space shuttle dock at the station, they pump oxygen into pressurized tanks at the airlock nodes. They also pump nitrogen gas into other pressurized tanks at those airlocks. The station's atmospheric controls mix the gases in the correct proportions to Earth's atmosphere and circulate the mixture through the cabin.

The third method is a backup system that makes oxygen through chemical reactions. The system is called the solid fuel oxygen generator (SFOG) and is located in the station's service module (Zvezda). The SFOG, which is also called oxygen candles or chlorate candles, has canisters that contain a mixture of powdered sodium chlorate (NaClO₃) and iron (Fe) powder. When the SFOG is ignited, the iron "burns" at 1112 degrees F (600 degrees C), which supplies the heat energy required for the reaction. The sodium chlorate breaks down into sodium chloride (table salt- NaCl) and oxygen gas (O₂). Some of the oxygen combines with iron to form iron oxide (FeO):

600°C

NaClO₃ (s) + Fe (s) -> 3O₂ (g) + NaCl (s) + FeO (s)

The SFOG supplies 6.5 man-hours of oxygen per kilogram of the mixture. Russian spacesuits also make oxygen using SFOGs.

In future space stations or space colonies, NASA scientists hope to create oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide naturally by growing plants. The plants would supply breathable air and be a food source for the astronauts. One problem that must be solved, though, is how to grow large numbers of plants in small spaces -- living space aboard a space station is limited.

Oxygen in Space FAQs

How do astronauts breathe in space?

Aboard the ISS, oxygen is made using one of the following ways: oxygen generators, pressurized oxygen tanks or solid fuel oxygen generators (also called oxygen candles).

Can oxygen be created in space?

Yes, oxygen can be created aboard the ISS using either oxygen generators, pressurized oxygen tanks or solid fuel oxygen generators (oxygen candles). The first method creates oxygen using electrolysis, as a result of which water gets split into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The former is released into space, while the latter is circulated within the cabin. The second method entails delivery of oxygen from Earth. When supply ships, automated transfer vehicles or the space shuttle docks at the ISS, oxygen is pumped into pressurized tanks, which is then circulated inside the cabin. The third method relies on chemical reactions that break down sodium chlorate into sodium chloride and oxygen gas.

How does ISS generate oxygen?

Most of the oxygen aboard the ISS is created through electrolysis. This process uses electricity from ISS solar panels to make hydrogen and oxygen out of water.

Lots More Information

Sources

American Chemistry Council, "Sodium Chlorate: Providing Emergency Oxygen" January 2007. http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_chlorine/science_sec.asp?CID=1708&DID=6370&CTYPEID=113
Bovard, RM, "Oxygen Sources for Space Flights" Aerospace Medicine 31: 407-412, 1960 http://www.asma.org/Organization/smb/timeline/1960/1960%20July-Dec/31050407-1.pdf
Launius, RD, "Space Stations: Base Camps to the Stars" Smithsonian Books, Washington, DC, 2003
Reference Guide to ISS http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/ISS_Reference_Guide.html