Terraforming Mars

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » 2003-03-05 07:47am

Is it possible to terraform Mars? Specifically, does Mars have enough gravity to maintain a human breathable atmosphere (meaning O2 and N2 won't escape)?

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-03-05 07:57am

It could hold an atmosphere for about a billion or so years before most would waft off. Speculation is that it did but dried out too fast. Though Arthur C Clarke is convinced we'll find a jungle or two, and it took a while to convince him so there is a possibility.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2003-03-05 07:59am

Theoretically.

http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/H ... rrafor.htm

though it would take centuries.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-03-05 09:11am

I thought I heard a report on some news program about somebody determining that there isn't enough frozen carbon dioxide at the poles to terraform mars.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-03-05 04:13pm

Reading th article provided, I believe that it could be done, but it would take thousands of years, and it would cost trillions to carry out such a project. Also, there might be some ethical issues about terraforming a planet that could be brung up, like waht happens when humans do anything awe-inspiring.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-03-05 05:33pm

holding an atmosphere would be no problem. one of the moons of jupiter has an atmosphere denser then earths and its terribly much heavier then moon. venus has an atmosphere so high it would crush any vessel that landed yet venus is less massive then earth. so its not that big of a deal for mars to hold an atmosphere, the real problem is getting all that gas.