Page 64 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

Colonizing Mars

Once space agencies are able to land spacecraft on Mars and
relaunch them safely back to Earth, the next step would be manned
missions. Astronaut pioneers would set up small outposts, living on
supplies from Earth. They would work to build a safe “Planetary
Surface Environment,” as space scientists say. Colonization could
follow, but permanent communities on Mars would need to be
“biospheres”—places where plants can grow and fresh air is created.
Researchers are developing large, airtight enclosures to serve as
future biospheres on Mars. Some scientists go further and imagine
ON TO MARS! planetary engineering to make Mars much like our Earth. Termed
This “adventure-travel” poster was
created by enthusiasts who dream “terraforming,” this would completely change the climate so that
of riding a “Mars Express” tourist
spacecraft. On Mars, they would future human generations could live and breathe on Mars. Then
explore volcanoes, live in luxurious they would be Martians.
greenhouses, prospect for
asteroids, and even make
expeditions to the outer planets.

Giant mirrors
MIRROR IN ORBIT orbiting Mars
Specially designed orbiting could reflect
mirrors could concentrate sunlight to
sunlight like a magnifying evaporate frozen
glass and reflect it down to carbon dioxide
Mars. Scientists would direct in the ice caps
the beam at any chosen spot
on the planet. The
intense heat would
melt ice and begin
the process of
terraforming
Mars.

Sunlight
MIRRORS MELT ICE
One concept for terraforming Mars Sunlight
is to put giant mirrors into orbit.
They could reflect sunlight onto
the planet’s surface and melt water
ice and carbon dioxide ice. The
mirror cluster pictured here is
warming up the South Polar Mars
region. This process would free
gases and vapor in order to thicken
and improve the atmosphere.

ENGINEERED CLIMATE CHANGE
Three stages of terraforming are shown in these paintings, starting with a
desert. The second stage is a cold, watery environment with a blue sky,
indicating denser air. In the third stage, there are green meadows, trees,
and ponds. The atmosphere is thick enough to fill the sky with clouds.

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