Over the course of approximately 1 Earth year, this system would produce at least two kilograms of oxygen per hour[1] in support of a human mission sometime in the 2030s.[17][18] The stored oxygen could be used for life support, but the primary need is for oxidizer for a Mars ascent vehicle (MAV).[19][20] The CO, a byproduct of the reaction, may also be collected and used as a low-grade fuel[21] or reacted with water to form methane (CH 4) for use as a primary fuel.[22][23] As an alternative use, an oxygen generation system could fill a small oxygen tank to support a sample return mission.[24] If the produced oxygen is combined with hydrogen, then water may be also formed.[10]