4 ms·

My next question would be, if we have a reactor we can bring there, do we have an atmospheric or other type of processor that the reactor could power to convert

My next question would be, if we have a reactor we can bring there, do we have an atmospheric or other type of processor that the reactor could power to convert martian air into something closer to earth air?

criddell 7y ago
Even if you could generate Earth air on Mars, how would you get Mars to hold on to it?
- gpm 7y ago
  Mars doesn't lose atmosphere fast enough to matter on the timescale of the expected lifetime of the human species as a whole.
  - stcredzero 7y ago
    Science fiction plot: We figure out that the signs of water on Mars are actually evidence of past alien terraforming. (Xenoforming?)
- stcredzero 7y ago
  Domes? More practically: We already know that martian soil can be made into bricks. So we could build thick masonry arch tunnels in trenches, then cover them over with soil. This would provide radiation shielding, and the weight could then counteract internal pressurization. Such tunnels could be made airtight by using impermeable plastics, or by using frozen water, which would be literally rock hard at martian temperatures.
stcredzero 7y ago
We can get methane and oxygen from the martian atmosphere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reaction#Manufacturing_propellant_on_Mars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reaction#Manufacturin... This can be elaborated to produce plastic feedstocks. However, for making an earthlike atmosphere, we'd need to import nitrogen. For more, check out The Case for Mars by Robert Zubrin.
gpm 7y ago
Sabatier reaction? CO2 + H20 (mined) -> CH4 (rocket fuel, and a good greenhouse gas if vented) + O2 (rocket fuel, and a breathing gas if you vent the CH4) But one nuclear reactor isn't going to have much effect. And the bigger problem with mars atmosphere is quantity (there is nearly none) not quality. Greenhouse gasses are good because they will warm up the planet, which will release more gasses, which increases the quantity of atmosphere (not to mention bringing mars closer to a temperature we can survive in).

criddell 7y ago

Even if you could generate Earth air on Mars, how would you get Mars to hold on to it?

gpm 7y ago
Mars doesn't lose atmosphere fast enough to matter on the timescale of the expected lifetime of the human species as a whole.
- stcredzero 7y ago
  Science fiction plot: We figure out that the signs of water on Mars are actually evidence of past alien terraforming. (Xenoforming?)
stcredzero 7y ago
Domes? More practically: We already know that martian soil can be made into bricks. So we could build thick masonry arch tunnels in trenches, then cover them over with soil. This would provide radiation shielding, and the weight could then counteract internal pressurization. Such tunnels could be made airtight by using impermeable plastics, or by using frozen water, which would be literally rock hard at martian temperatures.

stcredzero 7y ago

We can get methane and oxygen from the martian atmosphere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reaction#Manufacturing_propellant_on_Mars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabatier_reaction#Manufacturin... This can be elaborated to produce plastic feedstocks. However, for making an earthlike atmosphere, we'd need to import nitrogen. For more, check out The Case for Mars by Robert Zubrin.

gpm 7y ago

Sabatier reaction? CO2 + H20 (mined) -> CH4 (rocket fuel, and a good greenhouse gas if vented) + O2 (rocket fuel, and a breathing gas if you vent the CH4) But one nuclear reactor isn't going to have much effect. And the bigger problem with mars atmosphere is quantity (there is nearly none) not quality. Greenhouse gasses are good because they will warm up the planet, which will release more gasses, which increases the quantity of atmosphere (not to mention bringing mars closer to a temperature we can survive in).