For the first time, Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong orbiting station were able to use artificial photosynthesis technology to produce rocket fuel and oxygen. This demonstrated that a process similar to natural photosynthesis can be reproduced with minimal energy consumption.
These tests were conducted by the crew of the Shenzhou 13 mission, working from the Tiangong station, which has been in Earth orbit since November 2022. The scientists used the device in the form of a "box" containing a semiconductor catalyst.
During the reaction, water and carbon dioxide are converted into oxygen and the hydrocarbon ethylene, which can be used as rocket fuel. By replacing the catalyst, other substances can be obtained, such as methane or formic acid, which are suitable as preservatives, antimicrobial agents, or bases for producing sugars.
This method opens up a wide range of opportunities for autonomous life support in space and on other planets. According to media reports, this new technology requires significantly less energy than the electrolysis process used on the International Space Station, which consumes up to one-third of the station's total power.
