Mars One, the nonprofit foundation planning to build a human colony on Mars, is hosting a design competition to supply breathable air for future space travelers.

The winning design will be included in the scientific payload on an unmanned lander set to reach Mars by 2018. This lander will make preparations on the Red Planet for the first set of astronauts who will begin building the colony in 2025.

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Their project called Helena is named after a character from Shakespeare's play, Midsummer Night's Dream, who breathed life into stone.

According to project co-leader Andre Van Vulpen from the University of Western Australia, the experiment will pave the way for astronauts by ensuring their survival on Mars since this project will produce oxygen using Martian resources.

The Helena project includes different stages of design development. Each stage will be published online and shared with all who want to participate in the project.

The special hardware on Helena will have a minimum effect on the electrical and data transmission and technology of the Mars One lander.

The device will involve an electrolysis chamber, a pressurizing chamber, an oxygen sensor and a pressure release valve. The device will function when it's connected to an adjacent water data acquisition payload. The water produced by this system will be specifically used for oxygen generation.

When Helena arrives on Mars, it will produce air molecules via electrolysis from water extracted from Martian soil. The device will be protected by a custom built heavy duty chassis.

Anyone is welcome to vote for their favorite finalist during the competition on the Mars One website before the deadline on December 31.

TagsMars One Project Makes Breathing Oxygen in Mars Possible, Mars One, mars exploration, Mars Colony, mars one university competition, helena mars one unoversity competition, University of Western Australia