Mars has always attracted the attention of scientists and engineers who dream of the opportunity to make it suitable for life. The idea of terraforming, or turning Mars into a planet resembling Earth, has become popular thanks to science fiction. But how realistic are these dreams and what technological achievements are necessary for their embodiment?
The main needs: food, water, refuge, air
In order for people to live on Mars, liquid water, food, refuge, and an atmosphere with sufficient amounts of oxygen capable of retaining heat and protecting from solar radiation are essential. However, the Martian atmosphere consists almost entirely of carbon dioxide and is very rarefied, with a density of only about 1% of Earth’s atmosphere. This thin atmosphere is unable to hold heat, resulting in night temperatures on Mars plummeting to -150 degrees Fahrenheit (-101 degrees Celsius).
How to create an atmosphere?
One potential method to create an atmosphere on Mars could be to initiate volcanic activity using nuclear explosions, which would release gases trapped in the planet’s core. However, this approach carries the risk of radioactive pollution. A more promising idea is to redirect comets and asteroids rich in water towards Mars. The impact of these celestial bodies would release gases from beneath the surface and add water to the planet. While NASA has shown the feasibility of redirecting asteroids, it would require many large objects to achieve a significant result.
Various methods can be employed to increase the temperature on Mars. For instance, deploying giant mirrors in space to