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November 16, 2006
Space Mirrors
Just as author Kim Stanley Robinson predicted in his book "Red Mars", a proposal heads to NASA regarding 300 space mirrors orbiting the red planet.
The concept centers around reflecting solar energy towards the surface, warming it to a mild 68ยบ F. The extra sunlight means less thermal insulation needed for astronauts and more solar power for equipment. On a larger scale, it's the first step to terraforming Mars. The heat would melt the giant ice caps creating oceans which in turn help create an atmosphere.
Although terraforming a planet would take several centuries, we better get started soon because I don't think Earth can handle much more of us. Perhaps moving to a brand spankin' new planet will encourage us to be more careful with our resources and pollution.
If you wanna think really long term, I think we should try and find a planet even further out. After all, our sun is aging and in about 2 billions years, the outer rim of the sun will have expanded so much, there won't be an Earth, much less a Mars left to call home.
via newscientist
Posted by tranism at 12:40 PM | Permalink
Comments
i think it will be just the opposite.
Getting ANOTHER PLANET will make us even more lackadasical about this one. In one century we've come to the brink of making the earth unlivable. I hate the idea of humanity skipping across the galaxy making the universe as dirty as downtown, USA.
I always find it funny when i see something about UFOs and the general hysteria that anglo-saxons have about something from space coming down and raping their asses when the reality is WE'RE the fucking aliens! We're the ones that are going to be thing that arrives on a planet and ass-rapes any possible life form on it
Down with NASA!!
Posted by: bob at November 20, 2006 11:14 PM
"Perhaps moving to a brand spankin' new planet will encourage us to be more careful with our resources and pollution."
very optimistic, but that's probably not going to be the case. the first pioneers will fight for land rights. after that, the industrialists come in with their infrastructure.....
i hope they do it right. well laid out cities, working seemlessly with its public transportation system, networking together, working in unison--it can be beautiful.
GET YO A$$ TO MAHS. KUWATO!
Posted by: funkeboodha at November 21, 2006 1:36 PM