It then electrochemically splits the molecules into oxygen and carbon monoxide, and combines the oxygen molecules into O2.

Then it releases both the breathable oxygen and the carbon monoxide back into the planet's atmosphere.

"If you release the carbon monoxide into the Mars atmosphere, eventually it will combine with a very small amount of residual oxygen that's there and turn back into carbon dioxide," Hecht previously told Business Insider

For that reason, the carbon monoxide also wouldn't hinder a potential biosphere on Mars — a closed, engineered environment where Earthly life could thrive

Because MOXIE is a small proof-of-concept experiment, it won't produce much oxygen — if all goes well, it should be producing about 10 grams per hour, which is roughly the amount of oxygen in 1.2 cubic feet of Earth air