No global magnetic field to shield against the solar windĬountering the effects of space weather.Molecular instability - bonds between atoms break down in critical molecules such as organic compounds.Ionizing solar and cosmic radiation at the surface. Atmospheric pressure (about 1% of Earth's well below the Armstrong limit).Reduced light levels (about 60% of Earth). Here is a list of some of the ways in which Mars differs from Earth, which terraforming seeks to address: The Martian environment presents several terraforming challenges to overcome and the extent of terraforming may be limited by certain key environmental factors. At these temperatures oxygen and nitrogen would escape into space much faster than they do today. Mars is thought to have been warm in the past (due to evidence of liquid water on the surface) and terraforming would make it warm again. See also: Colonization of Mars This diagram shows the change in the atmosphere escaping from Mars if it was close to the average temperature on Earth. Side effects of terraforming include the potential displacement or destruction of any indigenous life if such life exists. Given the foundations of similarity and proximity, Mars would make one of the most plausible terraforming targets in the Solar System. It is thought that Mars had a more Earth-like environment early in its geological history, with a thicker atmosphere and abundant water that was lost over the course of hundreds of millions of years through atmospheric escape. In many aspects, Mars is the most Earth-like of all the other planets in the Solar System. Space colonization would facilitate harvesting the Solar System's energy and material resources. See also: Ethics of terraforming Illustration of plants growing in a hypothetical Mars base įuture population growth, demand for resources, and an alternate solution to the Doomsday argument may require human colonization of bodies other than Earth, such as Mars, the Moon, and other objects. Reasons for terraforming the planet include allaying concerns about resource use and depletion on Earth and arguments that the altering and subsequent or concurrent settlement of other planets decreases the odds of humanity's extinction. Reasons for objecting to terraforming include ethical concerns about terraforming and the considerable cost that such an undertaking would involve. Hazards and difficulties include low gravity, low light levels relative to Earth's, and the lack of a magnetic field.ĭisagreement exists about whether current technology could render the planet habitable. Justifications for choosing Mars over other potential terraforming targets include the presence of water and a geological history that suggests it once harbored a dense atmosphere similar to Earth's. The process would involve the modification of the planet's extant climate, atmosphere, and surface through a variety of resource-intensive initiatives, and the installation of a novel ecological system or systems. The terraforming of Mars or the terraformation of Mars is a hypothetical procedure that would consist of a planetary engineering project or concurrent projects, with the goal to transform Mars from a planet hostile to terrestrial life to one that can sustainably host humans and other lifeforms free of protection or mediation. Hypothetical modification of Mars into a habitable planet Artist's conception of the process of terraforming Mars
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