While scientists say we can’t terraform Mars, Elon Musk strongly believes the opposite
Mars features a very thin atmosphere, which translates to men quickly dying from one of the following four causes: 1) lack of sufficient atmospheric pressure to prevent organs from rupturing out of the body, 2) suffocation from lack of oxygen 3) freeze from low temperatures, or 4) get fried from too much ultraviolet radiation.
The solution to prevent this from happening would be to increase the atmospheric pressure on the Red Planet enough to allow humans to walk on its surface without a pressurized suit and, ideally, without a breathing machine.
One plan to do so inquires the release of carbon dioxide that is trapped in Mars’ surface. Back in 2015, Elon Musk suggested accomplishing it through dropping weapons on the planet’s poles.
However, according to a new study, there is not enough CO2 trapped in the surface to increase the atmospheric pressure to terraforming levels.
Even so, Musk claims that there is plenty enough CO2 trapped in the soil to achieve terraforming, but did not specify what exactly backs up his claims.
At the same time, NASA admits that we don’t have the necessary technology to make terraforming a possibility yet. Musk plans to send humans to Mars in 2024, so there is still plenty of time.
Source: futurism.com
