NASA has selected two proposals to develop new oxygen recovery technology that will allow astronauts to breathe easier in deep space.

The agency said it will invest as much as $2 million in 24 months for the development of each proposal.

The development of advanced life support technologies will allow NASA to establish improved capabilities for future deep space, long-duration, human exploration missions, said Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator of NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate in a statement. The selected proposals represent the best value to the agency and strong investments for STMD.

The proposal from Honeywell Aerospace in Phoneix: Phase II Methane Pyrolysis System for High-Yield Soot-Free Recovery of Oxygen from Carbon Dioxide.

And the proposal from UMPQUA Research Co. in Myrtle Creek, Oregon: Continuous Bosch Reactor.

The current system on the International Space Station recovers about 50% of the oxygen from exhaled carbon dioxide. The remaining oxygen required for crew is transported to the station from Earth. Due to this, long-term missions are "economically and logistically prohibitive."

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NASA announces $2m investment on technology advancement for deep space travel - WDSU New Orleans