# Terraforming Mars: Can we? Should we? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260 "2003-01-22T17:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guy\_Montag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Guy\_Montag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Montag)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/1 "2003-01-22T17:51:56Z")
Could we, with current technology, begin to terraform the planet mars so as to make it suitable for human life? I personaly think so, if only the funding could be had. There don’t appear to be any major technological breakthroughs needed to get it done. [here’s what NASA has to say on the subject](http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/mars/background/terra2.html) and here are [some](http://home.t-online.de/home/heinz.brodeck/redmars/projects/scientific/project_basis_concepts.htm)[others.](http://mitglied.tripod.de/Marsproject/essay.htm) Assuming that the above conclution is “yes”, and we go to mars only to find microbial life there–say–living in the icecaps. Could it be moraly justified to go ahead with the terraforming, thus killing these aliens to give ourselves another place to live? Perhaps we would simply be forcing their evolution? What if there is no life? Can we be trusted not to cause something catistrophic to happen if we attempt transfoming a planet? ---
**Author:** ![Eli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/2 "2003-01-22T17:58:53Z")
> [@](#): > > thus killing these aliens to give ourselves another place to live? That’s what natural selection is all about. It’s us versus the Martian microbes, the better species will win. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/3 "2003-01-22T18:10:45Z")
First of all, do you understand how scientifically valuable martian life would be? We have a very tenuous understanding of the origin of life on Earth. The main question about martian life would be if it is related to life on Earth or not. If it is, that means that panspermia is possible. If it is not, then we need to find out how similar martian life is to earth life. Does it use DNA? Protein? Are some kinds of molecular structures neccesary for life? Fundamental questions about molecular biology could be answered. Fundamental research in molecular biology means, you guessed it, more effective medicine. Who knows how many lives might be saved? And in contrast, exactly how many people are going to be transported to Mars, and at what expense? A million dollars a person for a one way trip? If YOU want to go to Mars, and have a million dollars to pay for it, fine. Don’t expect ME to pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/4 "2003-01-22T18:13:29Z")
Based on the debate over global warming and the Kyoto accords, I’m not sure we even have the ability to terraform _earth._ ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/5 "2003-01-22T18:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Could we, with current technology, begin to terraform the planet mars so as to make it suitable for human life? Not just yet. We still need more research on environmental encapsulation before successfully starting a terraformaing project. Biosphere 2 was an example of how much we have yet to learn. We would just be spinning our wheels if we started a terraforming project on Mars with today’s technology. Once we learn the complete ins and outs of how to set up a successful micro-environment, than it is entirely doable. By the way, I am 100 percent in favor of terraforming Mars. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/6 "2003-01-22T18:17:53Z")
If we find some life on Mars, it’s likely there will be life elsewhere on Mars. We could learn a lot by studying them, and to kill them all would be our loss. I’d also worry about Martian life contaminating _us_. Unlikely, but still a risk. So I’d vote against terraforming. If we were certain there is no life, I don’t see why anyone would object to a terraforming attempt. What if we screw up? A dead world will turn into a dead world. The question is, how can we be _absolutely_ sure there is no life? I have no answer to this. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/7 "2003-01-22T18:35:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Based on the debate over global warming and the Kyoto accords, I’m not sure we even have the ability to terraform earth. What’re you talking about? Global warming is PRECISELY what Mars _would_ need if we were to give it a good terraforming. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/8 "2003-01-22T19:26:10Z")
We may have the technology to terraform a planet but we don’t have the resources/infrastructure to do it. Think of the rockets, station keeping equipment, on site support and delivery of reflective sails the size of cities to a planet that is 0.5 to 3.5 AU’s away. Think of the resources needed to cover the polar caps in thousands of tons of soot. Whole manufacturing plants that produce CFC’s _and_ operate independently. We’re not ready yet in my opinion. But when we are ready we will simply be returning Mars to its warmer wetter condition. A whole new environment for life to flourish in, not simply exist in. It may not intentionally happen, but when we arrive the planet will change. But were our effects are lest felt, deep in the soil, I would imagine that Martian life will simply out compete any new terrestrial interlopers. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/9 "2003-01-22T19:27:52Z")
oops. “where our effects are least felt” ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/10 "2003-01-22T20:22:02Z")
I say we go for it. C’mon, guys! It’ll be _kew-all!_ ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/11 "2003-01-22T20:33:08Z")
I don’t what we could use, but get something to like drill into the planet, or lauch a bomb into one of it’s volcano’s. Hell, all the volcano’s. Thus warming the planet, melting ice caps, releasing CO2. Then, plant massive amounts of the easiest growing plants to make use of the CO2 to create oxygen. This would create a breathable atmosphere. Far fetched I know, but cool. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/12 "2003-01-22T20:35:51Z")
**SPOOFE** Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/13 "2003-01-22T20:46:04Z")
We can never be certain that Mars is totally free of life, but that doesn’t mean that we should just let the planet sit. If microbial life _does_ exist on Mars, there’s a strong chance that it could _adapt_ to more Earth-like conditions (after all, microbes on Earth mutate rapidly all the time), and even in a best case scenerio, it’ll take hundreds, if not thousands of years for us to terraform Mars, not a few years. So whilst I think that we should do everything that we can to try and find life on Mars, I don’t think that we should get our panties in a bunch if we _do_ happen to find it and turn the whole planet into some kind of giant nature preserve. After all, Mars hasn’t changed a hell of a lot in the past million years or so, so it’s not like any life forms currently on Mars are going to evolve into a sentient species any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/14 "2003-01-22T21:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Global warming is PRECISELY what Mars _would_ need if we were to give it a good terraforming. \*\* Hummers for everybody! Wait…yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/15 "2003-01-22T21:20:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*What’re you talking about? Global warming is PRECISELY what Mars _would_ need if we were to give it a good terraforming. \*\* As much as I hate to do this, I’m going to speak up for **december** here. I think what he means is that while we _know_ that the world’s getting warmer, we’re not 100% as to what’s causing it. (Of course, there are some scientists who claim that the Earth’s **not** getting warmer, but is actually growing _colder_, even if it does seem like the winters are warmer.) ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/16 "2003-01-22T21:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I think what he means is that while we know that the world’s getting warmer, we’re not 100% as to what’s causing it. Exactly why more research is needed on how to successfully create a self-sustaining Earth environment. Otherwise, we may inadvertantly turn Mars into another Venus. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/17 "2003-01-22T21:39:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Terraforming Mars: Can we? \*\* Sure we can. Mars needs an atmosphere and some water. Cant suckout the water without an atmosphere, cant have an atmosphere with out water. Lets slam an ice comet into it and come back in a few thousand years. …what?! you think terraforming is instantaneous? > [@](#): > > **Should we?** Sure why not? to save some microbes that have survived all by itself with no support for billions of years? You think humans can wipe out something like that? It wouldnt surprise me if those things came alive and ate some of us. Slam a comet into mars, if they survive that, they deserve to live. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Can we be trusted not to cause something catistrophic to happen if we attempt transfoming a planet? > \*\* Hell, no! but thems the price of progress… but better to do it on mars than to try that shit on earth. ---
**Author:** ![0rbytal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/65b543/32.png) [@0rbytal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/0rbytal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/18 "2003-01-22T21:56:03Z")
Since I am against use of “life-prevention”,and I like my space, I am all for terraforming Mars. While I don’t think the earth is overpopulated yet (I think we just need to be more efficient with our land use), if everyone stopped using life-prevention, we would populate quite rapidly, and need another place to stay. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/19 "2003-01-23T16:11:02Z")
Isn’t Mars too small to maintain an atmosphere at breathable pressure? ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260/20 "2003-01-23T19:53:38Z")
It would be easier to do Venus–most likely there’s no life to be a problem. just seed the atmosphere with engineered miroorganisms that will eat up the CO2 generating oxygen in the process. After a bunch of time, the greenhouse effect will go away, the planet will cool off, and become inhabitable. Assuming, of course that it lies at the right distance from the sun to not be too hostile to carbon-based units. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terraforming-mars-can-we-should-we/150260.md?page=2)