“The Benefits and Challenges of Colonizing Mars”
Millions of years ago, Mars looked similar to Earth. Large areas on its surface once boasted lakes and rivers of water. Valles Marineris is home to one of the biggest canyons in our solar system; nearly twice the length of the Grand Canyon. Scientists are studying whether it is feasible to make Mars habitable. They must determine how to design appropriate spacecraft and living spaces on Mars.
Climate on mars
Mars today has an inhospitable environment. In its Noachian period (4.1 billion to 3.5 billion years ago). However, Mars may have had a thicker atmosphere and oceans of water. These conditions did not last long enough for microorganisms to establish themselves on Mars. Due to its lack of magnetic fields, Earth is vulnerable to the solar wind: an unstoppable stream of particles from the Sun that over time have stripped lighter molecules from its atmosphere and caused it to thin significantly. Furthermore, exposure to radiation from solar winds has caused further degradation over time.
Due to Mars’ cold temperature and sparse atmosphere.
Liquid water cannot form on its surface. Rather, its only form of moisture exists frozen in its polar caps. That expands and retracts as temperatures fluctuate throughout the year. Scientists have provided some evidence suggesting that polar ice caps once contained liquid water. Possessing riverbeds and deltas more frequently seen at lower latitudes than would be expected for planets with lower gravity. Suggesting they once covered an old shallow lake or sea.
Also exploring methods to diffuse some of the carbon dioxide present in the Martian atmosphere.
In hopes of creating an ideal living environment there. If successful, underground habitats withstanding extreme temperatures could likely be necessary. Scientists have suggested that future missions to Mars could include one with the goal of changing its climate. While this task would be highly complex. Reducing temperatures by releasing carbon dioxide from greenhouse gases and heating its atmosphere with nuclear energy could eventually bring warmer conditions allowing microbes and people alike to survive on its surface.
Atmosphere
The Red Planet poses many difficulties that would challenge settlers living there. Such as no water and an atmosphere so thin it would boil with your breath. Deadly solar radiation, temperatures ranging from summer heatwaves to Antarctica-cold temperatures, and lack of natural resources essential to our existence here on Earth. But these aren’t its biggest issues.Gravity presents the biggest barrier for colonists on Mars. Even its minimal gravity could cause astronauts to experience bone and muscle loss.
Cardiovascular challenges, immune system dysfunction and balance issues, vision problems, and sensorimotor issues.
Including bone fractures and neurological symptoms such as vertigo. Scientists do not yet know exactly how long one could live in minimum gravity conditions before experiencing adverse symptoms. Research conducted during long-duration missions on International Space Station suggests it could take up to one year before symptoms appear. Mars’ atmosphere is far too thin to retain heat. Composed primarily of carbon dioxide gas.
Its thin atmosphere cannot insulate against solar radiation or provide protection from sunburn.
Additionally, air pressure on Mars is far lower than on Earth. One would likely perish without protection such as pressure suits. But there are ways to overcome these difficulties. One approach would be to increase carbon dioxide production through Mars’ abundant sources. Like its ice and rocks.
Unfortunately, doing this would require vaporizing large volumes of CO2.
Making the process costly and time-consuming. Another potential solution could be using aerogel material to capture thermal energy and warm surfaces on Mars’ surface. But this approach remains very experimental. Scaling this technology up from prototype to planetary-scale deployment is yet undetermined.
Thirdly, another possible solution would be to use Mars’ past atmospheric conditions as evidence that liquid water once existed on its surface. A solar greenhouse effect would heat layers of Martian polar ice through sunlight’s interaction with air trapped within the material. But given that much of Mars has lost most of its water supply over the years this process is unlikely still active.
Water
Billions of years ago, Mars was very different. Water flowed freely over its surface, creating lakes, rivers, and even oceans. Nowadays, however, Mars is a cold desert. Geological evidence for its past aquatic environments such as valley networks and outflow channels has been identified. Yet scientists remain baffled as to why liquid water could have persisted for up to 3 billion years before cooling to its present temperature of approximately -63 degrees Celsius (minus 81 Fahrenheit).
The popular belief is that water simply evaporated away into space.
But this theory doesn’t fully account for all of the data available and is inconsistent with asteroids carrying both organic and inorganic molecules bombarding Mars early on. Thus transporting their constituent molecules directly onto its surface. Researchers now suspect that up to 99 percent of Martian water could be locked deep within its crust in rocks called hydrous minerals. Containing hydrogen and oxygen in their chemical structure, along with water molecules. Scientists created a scenario explaining how hydrous minerals could have formed.
Their simulation suggested a warm humid climate may have existed at that time that allowed for liquid water to reach surface soil and atmosphere levels. Even under harsh conditions, life can flourish. On Earth, microorganisms known as psychrophiles survive temperatures below freezing levels and could potentially find shelter beneath Mars’ polar ice caps. To take advantage of solar energy to stay warm and moist. However, it is highly unlikely that polar ice caps could support such an ecosystem.
Ice is composed of water and carbon dioxide molecules.
Which allows sunlight to penetrate and heat its surrounding soil. As soon as this melts away, human settlement could become an unlikely prospect due to radiation and atmospheric pressure changes. The most realistic approach to turning Mars into an inhabitable place may involve creating dome-shaped habitats sealed off from its surface. But such an endeavor would require enormous amounts of energy for heating, cooling, and pressurizing purposes. Any damage would rapidly reduce pressure in the dome structure and could quickly result in its depressurization.
As a result, any person inside might face suffocation before being able to flee the building.
Soil on mars
Soil is an integral component of plant cultivation and poses the biggest hurdle to any attempt at colonizing Mars. Comprised of mineral particles, organic matter, and microorganisms that form a complex ecosystem for plants to flourish in. Soil also supplies essential nutrients which are taken up by their roots. Essential for human life on Earth and would never allow for progress there without it. As humans explore other planets.
Scientists will probably need to study the surface and soil.
To gain a full understanding of each one’s history and habitability both past and present.
For example, studying Mars’ surface helped reveal it was once wetter and warmer as well as evidence of long-term presence of water through clay deposits on its surface. An essential factor of soil composition on any planet is its pH level. Which determines whether it is acidic or alkaline and therefore suitable for cultivating crops. On Earth, pH of soil is determined by an intricate mix of organic and inorganic material derived from decaying plant and animal matter. While on other worlds this value may depend upon factors like geology, climate, and mineralogy.
Mars’ regolith, or surface soil, consists mostly of weathered basalt from volcanic eruptions and is alkaline with an ideal pH between 8-9. Unlike Earth’s acidic and infertile environment. However, Mars’ regolith contains not only basic macro elements (C, H, O and N). But also some of its essential microelements such as S, P, K, Mg Ca and Fe – essential ingredients for life!
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion. For educational purposes only.
