3 ms·

Nitrates on earth range from 10-50 mg/kg in soil, on mars they make up 1100ppm = 0.1% = 1mg/kg, so in the extreme you can convert 10% of martian land to soil. S

Nitrates on earth range from 10-50 mg/kg in soil, on mars they make up 1100ppm = 0.1% = 1mg/kg, so in the extreme you can convert 10% of martian land to soil. Seems like plenty. We just don’t know if the 1/3 gravity will cause bone loss problems - going to the moon is the best way to study it, but who knows. Probably, people will just age 3x faster in terms of bone mass on mars. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_osteopenia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight_osteopenia And yeah, the first years of a mars colony are gonna be dependent on earth. We’d definitely make sure we have enough rockets that they can abort if shit goes south on supply missions, but there’s no reason earth can’t supply them at first.

usrbinbash 3y ago
Nitrogen in Earths soil is present in the form of Ammonia, and derived substances. Occurring naturally, it is the product of microbial nitrogen fixation of diazotrophic bacteria, and subsequent biological processing. Plants can use these compounds directly. Nitrates on mars will probably be in the form of nitrate salts. Btw. agriculture also requires soil. Which the martian regolith isn't. > We’d definitely make sure we have enough rockets that they can abort if shit goes south on supply missions Have enough rockets where? On mars? Using what fuel? Using what ground installations like scaffolds and launch pads? Also, launching between Mars and Earth is only possible during specific time windows. For an Earth-Mars transit, these occur ~once every 2 years. So if "shit goes south" outside these windows, the amount of rockets won't matter.
- anticensor 3y ago
  > Also, launching between Mars and Earth is only possible during specific time windows. No. It is always possible, but the optimal windows happen every two years. There is another 2nd optimal window, that happens every 5.5 months, which flies by Venus before continuing on to Earth/Mars.
  - usrbinbash 3y ago
    You are of course correct. I should have said: The lowest energy option for a Mars transfer happens every 24 months. Transfer outside that window is possible, but requires more energy, which increases the transfer time, limits the payload, or both.

usrbinbash 3y ago

Nitrogen in Earths soil is present in the form of Ammonia, and derived substances. Occurring naturally, it is the product of microbial nitrogen fixation of diazotrophic bacteria, and subsequent biological processing. Plants can use these compounds directly. Nitrates on mars will probably be in the form of nitrate salts. Btw. agriculture also requires soil. Which the martian regolith isn't. > We’d definitely make sure we have enough rockets that they can abort if shit goes south on supply missions Have enough rockets where? On mars? Using what fuel? Using what ground installations like scaffolds and launch pads? Also, launching between Mars and Earth is only possible during specific time windows. For an Earth-Mars transit, these occur ~once every 2 years. So if "shit goes south" outside these windows, the amount of rockets won't matter.

anticensor 3y ago
> Also, launching between Mars and Earth is only possible during specific time windows. No. It is always possible, but the optimal windows happen every two years. There is another 2nd optimal window, that happens every 5.5 months, which flies by Venus before continuing on to Earth/Mars.
- usrbinbash 3y ago
  You are of course correct. I should have said: The lowest energy option for a Mars transfer happens every 24 months. Transfer outside that window is possible, but requires more energy, which increases the transfer time, limits the payload, or both.