Submitted by JumpinKing t3_xvwpo3 in UpliftingNews
My_Soul_to_Squeeze t1_ir44hqy wrote
Reply to comment by groovy604 in NASA is now making oxygen on Mars by JumpinKing
Short answer is yes. There are ways to generate a magnetic field / block some of the solar wind, but they're all scifi right now. Even if we could make an atmosphere Mars could hold onto, it would take multiple lifetimes to complete.
TheStegg t1_ir5kszb wrote
> it would take multiple lifetimes to complete.
The best time to start terraforming a backup Earth was 500 years ago.
The second best time? Now.
alphahydra t1_ir6m3nv wrote
If I remember correctly, the stripping of the atmosphere by solar wind is a very gradual process, such that if we did have the technology to terraform it on the timescale of human history (even a process requiring centuries to complete) the rate of human-effected change would far outpace the rate of loss. So a terraformed Mars would still be habitable for a long time, even if we didn't solve the magnetism issue.
Like, if you could magically give Mars a full Earth-like atmosphere today, it would still be breathable thousands of years from now (assuming solar wind was the only deleterious effect).
Coletrain-Z t1_ir4kafv wrote
Then there is also a matter of resources required to achieve said task
Dr-P-Ossoff t1_is0wdiq wrote
I know a “theory of habitable planets” guy who could say how much nitrogen and oxygen you need. You could get the oxygen from the rusty soil.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments