Posted on 07/30/2018 3:44:07 PM PDT by LibWhacker
We have the technology, but it wouldn't involve cranking up the CO2 level, that's just global warming hoaxter idiocy. We could mine frozen nitrogen and oxygen in the outer solar system, and deliver it in chunks just big enough to amount to something but not so big that we couldn't move it and steer it.
But it would take a lonnnng time, and a lot of cash..
Q: How much energy would it take to generate a magnetic field sufficient to protect Mars’ atmosphere?
Given that, the best bet might be to move one of the moons thought to have much more water than Earth, preferably in the form of ice, to Mars orbit. (Not TOO close - you don’t want big problems from tidal effects.) Set up a gigantic catapult and start chucking ice down to Mars, using the heat of entry (it’s not really RE-entry) and likely detonation to vaporize the ice.
Obviously this takes tech and energy expenditures we can only dream about at present... It might make more sense to use Mars as one source of material to build a Ringworld.
For later.
L
Along with the "In the future it is quite possible..." caveat we will still need to get help from the Vulcans to create additional planetary gravity on Mars strong enough to retain an atmosphere.
Don't hold your breath.... so to speak.
Oh, and the added gravity will also cause a stronger tidal force that will cause Phobos to tear itself apart and crash onto Mars sooner than expected. Splat.
Or a couple of kids and skateboards.
I sure would like to live long enough to at least see earth colonies living on Moon and Mars
The calculations indicated that a 1-2 Tesla (10,000 - 20,000 Gauss) magnetic field generator positioned at the gravitationally stable L1 Lagrange Point between the Sun and Mars, would provide enough protection for gases to accumulate in the atmosphere over time, and provide immediate reduction of radiation on the surface of Mars. They do no say how long it would take, or how difficult it is to generate such fields.
Uh, no. Mars' gravity is strong enough to hold onto a decent atmosphere by itself, if that atmosphere can be protected from the solar wind. That's the whole idea.
No Vulcans. Phobos stays put. Mars gains an atmosphere and terraforming proceeds as planned. Carl moves to Mars.
The combination of the plentiful basic material, and only 38% as much gravity to boost it from, makes Mars an attractive source for steel to build space stations ...and a mighty interstellar fleet.
Interesting - I had not seen your link, until just now, but that sort of protection is exactly what I was thinking of.
Now, that said, the article at the link refers to 1 - 2 Tesla, or 10,000 to 20,000 Gauss. Where? At the surface of the “inflatable generator”? 10 kGauss is a STRONG field —much stronger flux density than you’d see at the surface of a conventional ceramic magnet, for example, and I challenge anybody to pull apart by hand (in the direction of magnetization) a couple of 6” diameter ceramic ring magnets (like those found in a medium price guitar speaker.)
For another comparison, Earth’s magnetic field at the surface ranges from 0.25 - 0.65 Gauss.
With current and near-term technology, human habitation of Mars will be mostly underground. Far cheaper and better protection against solar radiation, wind, and the cold. Setting aside insulation and shielding, more expensive in the short term than surface structures, but probably cheaper total cost of occupancy given the attrition on surface structures vs. the permanence of things carved out rock especially on a seismically-inert planet.
“Where?”
In the article, they propose putting the magnetic shield generator in space. About 675,000 miles off Mars (320 radius lengths), in a gravitationally stable balance point (Lagrange Point L1) in Mars’ orbit around the Sun.
There it could passively sit of it’s own (lack) of weight, without fuel demands to maintain orbit (only orientation - and to produce the huge magnetic field).
The articles that claim a breathable atmosphere can be sustained on Mars depend on a lot of handwaving.... for a long time. And none I’ve read talk about where the nitrogen component will come from, if the atmosphere is not to be essentially O2 plus CO2.
A really-really deep pit mine could collect the remaining atmosphere. Larry Niven would probably chuckle-Canyon.
Current loop planet sized. Dream big.
Would be under pressure load from solar wind, need to accelerate diverted solar plasma for counter-thrust to hold position.
There is nothing insufficient about Mars' mass (size is irrelevant). Early Mars had a LOT of carbon dioxide. The weight of that gas alone was enough to provide Mars with an atmospheric pressure equal to that on today's Earth. Even Saturn's moon Titan has a substantial atmosphere (Titan is under the protection of Saturn's magnetosphere). The problem is, if you let the solar wind get to your atmosphere, you're going to lose it. Even Earth will lose its atmosphere it our molten core quits spinning.
Yep, they mention that.
Plus, it’s going to need regular servicing and it’s way out in the middle of nowhere. Better than nothing though.
Actually, not a bad idea.
Thank you for reinforcing my argument that any flights of fancy regarding a manned mission to Mars should be set aside until we can overcome the physics restricting us to chemical-based escape from Earth’s gravity.
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