# Mars: To terraform or not to terraform? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 16, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-to-terraform-or-not-to-terraform/76616 "2001-08-16T20:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SpaceGhostofArrakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SpaceGhostofArrakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceGhostofArrakis)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-to-terraform-or-not-to-terraform/76616/41 "2001-08-18T15:51:54Z")
Having read Both of Robert Zubrin’s books, I am now firmly on the “Colonize and Terraform Mars” side. Zubrin makes the argument that, when civilizations go static, they fall. Therefore, we need a challenge. i.e., settling Mars would be that challenge. Lack of labor on Mars (like America in colonial days) will result in the creation of labor-saving devices and other inventions that can be sold on planet Earth. Plus, I think it would be really cool a couple hundred years down the line when Mars revolts and tries to leave the Earth Alliance… What? Why are you looking at me like that? ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-to-terraform-or-not-to-terraform/76616/42 "2001-08-19T02:58:39Z")
First of all I don’t think we humans have the technology to do such a project anytime in the future, far off or not. Secondly the martian soil is rather salty, finding a plant that will live there will be a bitch. And last of all, Why did mars lose it’s heavier atmosphere in the first place? It doesn’t have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere needed by plants and us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-to-terraform-or-not-to-terraform/76616.md?page=2)