From: Ross A. Finlayson (raf@tiki-lounge.com)
Date: Sun Jan 07 2001 - 08:02:44 MST
Ross A. Finlayson wrote:
> Doug Jones wrote:
>
> > "Ross A. Finlayson" wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > On Mars, it is cold because it is farther from the Sun, and gravity is
> > > less. There is not enough air to breathe. There might be large
> > > quantities of water. It does not have geodetic activity like the Earth.
> > >
> > > On Earth, we have kudzu, an example of a plant that grows using runners
> > > across the ground to stop erosion. On Mars, if there was liquid water
> > > on the surface, then we could seed Mars with Earth life.
> > >
> > > Some plants and animals on Earth live in desert-like conditions, where
> > > the weather does not have to be good to support Earth life. For
> > > example, some fish can live for years without water and perhaps air,
> > > basically.
> > >
> > > So, there could be bears on Mars, first. It would take a long time, but
> > > the atmosphere could be seeded by engines that released the correct
> > > proportion of atmospheric gasses into the environment, unlike current
> > > engines.
> > >
> > > Ross
> >
> > What the heck are you smoking? And where can I get some? ;)
> >
> > --
> > Doug Jones
> > Rocket Plumber, XCOR Aerospace
> > http://www.xcor-aerospace.com
>
> Actually, sadly enough, I currently have a lit cigarette in my hand. You can
> get the brand at the store.
>
> So, about terraforming Mars, part of that is establishing an ecosystem if one
> does not exist, and one wouldn't spontaneously develop given other
> terraforming environmental changes.
>
> Unlike Venus, Mars doesn't have a toxic atmosphere and regular temperatures
> above 100 centigrade. Perhaps Venus is a better terraforming target, except
> for the temperature, because it has an existing thick atmosphere of chemicals
> to convert into an approximation of Earth atmosphere. On Mars, on the other
> hand, it would be easier to have companion human settlements to large scale
> environmental engineering. These two solar satellites are considered for
> their proximity and for having a solid carbonate or metallic body.
>
> So, if we can get enough of what Jones is requesting to him and the other
> rocket scientists, then maybe we can imagine and get built cheap reusable
> (sustainable) lift technology. ;)
>
> Ross
>
> --
> Ross Andrew Finlayson
> Finlayson Consulting
> Ross at Tiki-Lounge: http://www.tiki-lounge.com/~raf/
> "The best mathematician in the world is Maplev in Ontario." - Pertti L.
Also, on Mercury, as it doesn't spin as it revolves around the Sun but points
towards it, half of Mercury is always pointed towards the Sun and the other half
dark, like Earth's Moon. So, human industrial and settlement activities could be
started on the borders of the dark and light halves to take advantage of the
properties of both halves.
It would be nice to have globes of the planets like there are globes of the
Earth, actual physical globes that you can set on your desk. There are probably
maps to put on the walls.
Some of Jupiter's moons have geothermic activity! There are lots of stories that
imply the technology to inhabit any of these environments.
Ross
-- Ross Andrew Finlayson Finlayson Consulting Ross at Tiki-Lounge: http://www.tiki-lounge.com/~raf/ "The best mathematician in the world is Maplev in Ontario." - Pertti L.
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