Best Way to Make Mars Habitable: Inject Greenhouse Gas

space.com ^ | 02/03/05 | Robert Roy Britt

[KevinDavis]

The best way to make Mars habitable would be to inject synthetic greenhouse gases into its atmosphere, researchers said Thursday.

[KevinDavis]

Can't wait to drive those Martian SUV...

[KevinDavis]

[GeronL]

YEA!!!

Build factories on Mars, its the answer to pollution and that labor shortage.

[1FreeAmerican]

Why not use our own greenhouse gases? We could run a hose from here to there and pump it into the Martian atmosphere.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Just send my brother-in-law. He'll provide all the gases they'll need.

[BerniesFriend]

yeah..vincente fox will want to send "migrant" workers there so they can send money home..what do you think?

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Pro-Bush]

[Simmy2.5]

Global Warming on Mars? Bet you the environmentalist will try to stop this! After all, it goes against Kyoto!

[LdSentinal]

"Earth First! Make Mars Our B*tch!" - Dale Gribble

[onedoug]

Too much. LOL!

[quantim]

A 'hugh' and more massive iron core indigenous to Mars would be helpful. Gravity 'sucks.' No gas injection necessary.

Me' name ain't quantim fer nuthin.'

[VIDADDICT]

Another argument holds that Mars was likely warmer and wetter in its distant past, and it might have harbored life, so bringing it back to a previous state makes sense.

Makes perfect sense to me. I should have thought of that long ago.

[Noachian]

Scientists and science-fiction authors have long pondered terraforming Mars, melting the vast stores of ice in its polar caps to create an environment suitable for humans. The topic is highly controversial.

You mean global warming on Mars?

When do the environmentalist wackos start marching to "Save Mars!"

[konaice]

We've been making greenhouse gasses on earth for 30,000 years with no measurable effect that is distinguishable from normal fluxuations of what ever metric one cares to use.

So how would one propose to generate enough of any greenhouse gasses on mars to make an effect anytime soon?

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Does Mars have an magnetic field sufficient enough to keep the solar wind from stripping the "new" Martian atmosphere away?

The Earth's Magnetic Field

[Question_Assumptions]

From what I've read, No. The big problem Mars has is that it doesn't have a substantial magnetic field and that may explain the now-thin atmosphere. So the key is to find some large body with lots of water and a solid core like, say, Europa and slam it into Mars, liquifying the planet and letting it reform similar to the collision that created Earth's Moon.

[gaijin]

Maybe we could send the illegal aliens to Mars? Then they'd really be aliens...

[adiaireton8]

I don't think magnetic field is the problem; I think lack of gravity is the problem. A magnetic field would hold charged particles. But what Mars needs to hold non-charged particles is gravity.

-A8

[DTogo]

I nominate the first manned mission to Mars be manned by Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer. One way ticket, no need to report back, just talk and fill atmosphere with greenhouse gasses.