| |
EI2GYB > ASTRO 18.10.25 10:04l 113 Lines 6728 Bytes #23 (0) @ WW
BID : 46532_EI2GYB
Read: GAST
Subj: Could We Really Turn Mars Green?
Path: DB0FFL<OE2XZR<OE6XPE<UA6ADV<I0OJJ<IR0AAB<VK2RZ<VE3CGR<VE2PKT<PY2BIL<
EI2GYB
Sent: 251013/1219Z @:EI2GYB.DGL.IRL.EURO #:46532 LinBPQ6.0.25
#####
_ _ _ _ #### _\_
/ \ ___| |_ _ __ ___ | \ | | _____ _____ ##=-[.].]
/ _ \ / __| __| '__/ _ \ | \| |/ _ \ \ /\ / / __| #( _\
/ ___ \\__ \ |_| | | (_) | | |\ | __/\ V V /\__ \ # \__|
/_/ \_\___/\__|_| \___/ |_| \_|\___| \_/\_/ |___/ \___/
.' `.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Could We Really Turn Mars Green?
Terraforming is the theoretical process of transforming a planet or moon to
make it habitable for humans and other Earth like life. The concept involves
altering an alien world's atmosphere, temperature, and surface conditions to
resemble Earth's environment, such as adding oxygen to the air, creating liquid
water on the surface, and establishing a stable climate. Mars is the most
commonly discussed candidate for terraforming, with proposals ranging from
releasing greenhouse gases to warm the planet, to introducing microorganisms
that could gradually produce oxygen over thousands of years.
Until recently, the idea of terraforming Mars has belonged to science fiction,
a grand vision of transforming the cold, barren red planet into a world teeming
with life. The idea has captured imaginations for generations, but serious
scientists have largely dismissed it as impossible. Now, however, a team of
researchers led by Dr Erika DeBenedictis from Pioneer Labs argues it's time to
take terraforming seriously as a research programme, not because we should
start tomorrow, but because recent breakthroughs in several fields have shifted
the concept from impossible to merely very difficult.
Dr DeBenedictis, the CEO of Pioneer Labs authored a workshop summary that was
prepared for the 2025 Green Mars Workshop, makes the case plainly and simply.
Thirty years ago, terraforming Mars wasn't just hard, it was impossible. But
new technologies, from SpaceX's Starship potentially slashing launch costs by a
factor of a thousand to advances in synthetic biology and climate modelling,
have fundamentally changed the equation. The question is no longer whether
terraforming is physically possible, but whether we should even pursue it and
how we might approach such an incredible undertaking.
The workshop summary presents an intriguing narrative, beginning with possible
planetary endpoints and tracing back to the steps required to reach them. The
vision unfolds in phases. First comes warming, raising Mars's average
temperature by tens of degrees within a few decades using engineered aerosols
or greenhouse gases. Recent research suggests Mars harbours enough water ice to
then form an ocean covering nearly four million square kilometres at depths of
300 metres. A temperature increase of around 30 degrees Celsius could begin
melting these frozen reserves, creating conditions where liquid water could
exist on the surface.
The second phase involves establishing microbial life. Here's where synthetic
biology becomes crucial. Researchers propose engineering extremophiles,
microbes that thrive in harsh conditions, combining traits like temperature
tolerance, radiation resistance, and indifference to atmospheric pressure.
These hardy organisms could potentially cover Mars with algae like growth
within decades, beginning the slow process of atmospheric transformation
through photosynthesis.
The final phase stretches across centuries or even millennia, building an
oxygen rich atmosphere thick enough to support complex life. The team suggests
starting within enormous domed habitats, 100 metres tall, where photosynthesis
or water electrolysis could generate breathable air. Beyond these structures,
spreading plant life would gradually contribute oxygen to the broader
atmosphere, though this natural process alone would take a thousand years.
Eventually though, human explorers could leave the protective domes and live on
the planet's surface.
The research also highlights critical unknowns that must be addressed. What
lies beneath the extensive ice sheets on Mars? How would dust storms behave in
a warmer, wetter atmosphere? Are materials needed for large scale water
electrolysis, are they abundant enough on Mars, or would they require expensive
importation from Earth?
Beyond the technical challenges lie the ethical questions. If we decide to
terraform Mars, we will change it in ways that may not be reversible. Mars has
its own planetary history, and terraforming would effectively end our
opportunity to study that pristine record. If indigenous Martian life exists,
even in microbial form, our interventions could destroy it. The researchers
argue that studying terraforming has immediate practical benefits for Earth.
Technologies developed for Mars habitation, from desiccation resistant crops to
sustainable closed loop systems, could directly benefit our home planet.
Developing green technologies for space might offer a pathway to maturing them
for terrestrial use.
I have to confess, as a not so closet space enthusiast, there's something
compelling about approaching planetary engineering not as immediate action but
as rigorous research. The workshop summary doesn't advocate launching
terraforming missions tomorrow. Instead, it calls for careful laboratory
studies, detailed climate modelling, and perhaps small scale experiments on
future Mars missions to test localised warming strategies. But, and it's a big
but, before we consider transforming an entire world, we must thoroughly
understand what we're working with and what we might be risking. The
conversation has shifted from "could we?" to "should we, and if so, how?" and
that represents genuine, considered progress.
Source : An Introduction to Mars Terraforming, 2025 Workshop Summary
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
================================================================================
= ____ __ ____ ___ _ _ ____ ____ ____ ____ =
= ( __)( )(___ \ / __)( \/ )( _ \ ( _ \( _ \/ ___) =
= ) _) )( / __/( (_ \ ) / ) _ ( ) _ ( ) _ (\___ \ =
= (____)(__)(____) \___/(__/ (____/ (____/(____/(____/ =
= Serving The Irish Packet Radio Network Since 2006 =
= Packet: EI2GYB@EI2GYB.DGL.IRL.EURO / EI2GYB@WINLINK.ORG =
= Email/PayPal: EI2GYB@GMAIL.COM =
================================================================================
Lese vorherige Mail | Lese naechste Mail
| |
