How long would it take to terraform Mars?

Answer 1

i tend to agree with Doug_Don here. Given current tech, it probably can't be done... Yet.
However, i prefer to remain optimistic.
You should try reading the sci-fi masterpiece "the Martian Chronicles" by author Ray Bradbury. He wrote such a short story therein about a Johnny Appleseed-type character who spends his life in just such a pursuit.
In theory: if a planetary water source could be discovered, and plant life could be established in such a harsh environment, you have the basic cocktail for an atmosphere. Although, you're talking generations, if not centuries of terraforming to even conceivably make such a planet habitable to human life. Throw in a heaping of Darwinism on a human scale to adapt to the new climates, and now you're looking at a millenium, at least, given present technology.
Fun question.
Seriously, check out that book.

Answer 2

A century or two, once the technology is available. Going out to the Asteroid Belt and pushing a lot of ice and CO2 asteroids at Mars will help. We can genetically engineer plants that will grow at high altitudes, low air pressure and freezing conditions. As the added water and CO2 begin to trap more heat, the plants will grow adding more oxygen. The best that can be hoped for is an equatorial area similar in climate to the high Andes, due to the low gravity not being able to hold much atmosphere. There have been many serious discussions and studies made, not sci-fi, concerning how it could be done. Many of the so-called answers given were from dolts who laugh at anything they don't understand and some were good.

Why terraform Mars? Because if we can we can live there without pressuresuits and grow plants for oxygen and food other than in pressurised domes, which would always be hazardous to do, then we can have viable colonies there in case we stupidly wipe ourselves out here or get hit by a doomsday asteroid. Venus is too hot and would be far harder to cool down, requiring a sunscreen in space and some plants which can float in the cooler air of high altitude while they turn the atmosphere into something breatheable and less heat retaining. Perhaps plants which use hydrogen bladders to keep them aloft. But if Venus were terraformed it is likely that the poles would more habitable and the equatorial area would remain too hot. A lot would depend on the screen keeping the sun's heat at bay. Air pressure would be more like Earth-normal than on Mars.

Answer 3

It would be easier to terraform Venus than Mars because unlike Venus Mars does not have the gravity to maintain a livable atmosphere. Even if we gave Mars a nice and toasty atmosphere it wouldn´t remain there. It would slowly drift off into space with every ray from the sun that hits it.

As for terrestrial life surviving on the surface of mars, IF mars had an earthlike atmosphere, that, atleast, is possible. Here on earth some plants regularly shut down photosynthesis during mid day or they would sustain damage. They can actually OD on light. So living on Mars, where solarradiation would be less intensive, could be just what these plants would like.

Answer 4

Decades if not hundreds of years. The good news is that there's great proof there was once an atmosphere that could support life, and plenty of water. The bad news is that most of mars is stone dry and is probably made up of all sorts of nasty chemicals.

Mars has ice caps, and they have seasons. It's very likely that Mars could actually be terraformed successfully. First off, we'd need to melt that ice so it could pump oxygen into the air and create lakes, rivers and oceans. The initial stages would be very long and boring. We have to melt the ice caps to get that started - I don't know, fire a nuke at them? ;)

In any case, once we get the chain reaction that gets the atmosphere going, the surface structure on mars would be in for a bumpy ride. Assuming that there was once an atmosphere, there may be deposits of ice under the crust, and if we melt them we can get going. So basically all we need is a Mars-sized frying pan. The more stable the atmosphere, the longer it would take.

Btw, terraforming Venus would be a LOT harder! We'd have to get the temperature down for a start - it's hot enough to melt lead!

Answer 5

The technology for doing that has yet to be invented. To start, there's a program coming up I think on this week, not sure which channel, but it's about 'climate control'. What we are already able to do in that regard and plans for the future.

Once climate control has been achieved, I see no problem it the terraforming of Mars - or let's just say, Earth 2.

Answer 6

Possibly the best fiction to be written on this subject is Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy. Instead of using comets and asteroids to feed the Martian atmosphere, I have the idea that it will be possible to transfer some of the atmosphere of Venus to Mars using the solar wind and directed magnetic pulses. In a short story, I suggested that from the initiation of the theory to beginning of transfer would take two generations. The gas entering Mars would be different from the atmosphere of Venus because of the protons (ionised hydrogen) in the solar wind. There are known underground aquifers on Mars. Genetically engineered plants or bacteria would produce oxygen from carbon dioxide. We have not the technology to do all this at present, so it is impossible to put a figure on it. However, I believe that we will have the technology soon (a decade or so)..

Answer 7

from what I've heard i don't think its possible, the main problem is Mars core is dead, without a active core nothing can move forward. A planet need an active core to hold onto its atmosphere so no matter what they may tr, terraform wont work. But as i say "I'm no expert" maybe some genius may be able to tell you different.

Answer 8

That's a good one "terraform" I have images of McAlpine or "Wimpy" with huge ready-mixed concrete lorries lining up all over Mars and an esculator from the Sahara Desert with the sand.

Answer 9

Terraforming is very ecologically insensitive. Best let planets be as they are. Especially any planets we discover in the future which are like in early-earth stage pristine condition should be left free of human interference.

It would be best for us to build our own orbitals, once we acquire and perfect forcefield and Anti-Gravity technology.

Also with forcefields and advanced engine capability, there is no reason why we couldn't build spaceships so big as to house billions of people. Only small minds think spaceships have to be small like the shuttle. Think more massive cruise-liner.

Answer 10

I'm not sure, but I think it will take alot less longer to terraform Mars than it will to terraform Newport.