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January 22, 2007
In 1000 Years
Popular Science has a great article on terraforming the red planet, which won't be red anymore if Dr. Zubrin's theories are successful. According to him, humans can transform Mars into a warm temperate world capable of supporting human life in just 1000 years. I know that's longer than any of us will ever live but on a geological time-scale . . . that's insanely fast.
The first step we've already done; exploration. We need to accurately map and identify what minerals are available. The next step is creating a rich CO2 atmosphere. Although Zubrin suggests space mirrors and hijacked meteorites, a more realistic approach relies on something humans have mastered; making artificial CO2.
We could build large CO2 producing factories and in little as 50 years, create an atmosphere thick enough to raise the temperature to +32ยบ F. Frozen water will begin to melt creating weather. The next step is to garden. Plants start the conversion of CO2 into yummy oxygen. Their decay replaces the CO2. In time (like 900 years), our efforts at playing mother nature should bear us a planet capable of sustaining human life. TA-DAH!
For all of humanity's ingenuity, we have a dark side. I'm sure once Mars is ready to be colonized, a massive space race will ensue between countries wanting to get there first to stake their claim. An ideological war breaks out between scientists and religious sects and Mars becomes the new battleground. Unfortunately for Earthlings, Martian colonists revolt and that'll be the end of our utopian dreams.
A more positive path would be to realize humans will be incapable of terraforming and colonizing other planets unless we work together. Let's hope in 1000 years that'll be the case.
Posted by tranism at 12:04 PM | Permalink
Comments
Amazing! Simply Amazing! Can't wait until I'm 1000+ years old to see the new Earth's opening day.
Posted by: Magmozine Editor at January 23, 2007 2:42 AM
Dr. Zubrin has many great ideas about terra formation on Mars. However there is a problem with CO2 factories on the Martian Surface. A large amount over centuries could be unpredictable and lead to a runaway greenhouse effect such as currently seen on Venus. Also - it has been proposed that Mars may be emerging from an Ice age. Which, if true means that the planet will introduce its own greenhouse gases to warm itself up. Also Dr. Zubrin brought up the point of using Methane which is better at storing heat in an atmosphere. Also worth noting - Mars currently has a significant ozone layer due to the vast amounts of CO2. Apparently CO2 contributes to Ozone building. Something to think about.
As for the mad dash to claim martian land in 1000 years time - that most likely will not happen.
The reason being that people will begin to colonize Mars even before the surface warms up. This will setup real estate deals etc. Dr. Zubrin calculated the value of the surface of all 144 million square kilometers a few years back, but I can't remember the figure.
- I worked with a group at uni on using Martian resources to make rocket fuel and drinkable water and breathable air from Martian atmosphere so I'm familiar with a few of Dr. Zubrins ideas.
Posted by: rcamp004 at November 26, 2007 8:37 PM
Countries and religious sects battling for Mars in 1000 yrs? Oh boy, I must be missing something because as I see it, in a few more decades Earthlings will have given up all power to 1 global government in which speaking of
countrie(s) and religion(s) in the plural would be punishable by termination.
Posted by: Lu at January 27, 2008 8:31 PM