Space & Astronomy

Terraforming Mars is currently impossible

By T.K. Randall
July 31, 2018 ·  14 comments

We'll be needing spacesuits on Mars for a long time to come. Image Credit: NASA/Pat Rawlings In the 1990 science fiction classic 'Total Recall', Arnold Schwarzenegger activates a terraforming device that fills the Martian atmosphere with breathable air.

In reality however, turning Mars in to a habitable environment is a lot more difficult.

In a new study, scientists have determined that in order to warm up the planet enough for liquid water to exist on its surface, it would be necessary to release far more carbon dioxide in to its atmosphere than currently exists on the planet - making such a process impossible without future technologies."Our results suggest that there is not enough CO2 remaining on Mars to provide significant greenhouse warming were the gas to be put into the atmosphere," said study lead author Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado, Boulder.

"In addition, most of the CO2 gas is not accessible and could not be readily mobilized."

"As a result, terraforming Mars is not possible using present-day technology."

Source: Phys.org | Comments (14)

Tags: Mars, Terraforming