Terraforming Mars (Astrobiology Perspectives on Life in the Universe)

Description

TERRAFORMING MARS This book provides a thorough scientific review of how Mars might eventually be colonized, industrialized, and transformed into a world better suited to human habitation. The idea of terraforming Mars has, in recent times, become a topic of intense scientific interest and great public debate. Stimulated in part by the contemporary imperative to begin geoengineering Earth, as a means to combat global climate change, the terraforming of Mars will work to make its presently hostile environment more suitable to life―especially human life. Geoengineering and terraforming, at their core, have the same goal―that is to enhance (or revive) the ability of a specific environment to support human life, society, and industry. The chapters in this text, written by experts in their respective fields, are accordingly in resonance with the important, and ongoing discussions concerning the human stewardship of global climate systems. In this sense, the text is both timely and relevant and will cover issues relating to topics that will only grow in their relevance in future decades. The notion of terraforming Mars is not a new one, as such, and it has long played as the background narrative in many science fiction novels. This book, however, deals exclusively with what is physically possible, and what might conceivably be put into actual practice within the next several human generations. Audience Researchers in planetary science, astronomy, astrobiology, space engineering, architecture, ethics, as well as members of the space industry. Title Page Copyright Preface Part 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Terraforming and Colonizing Mars 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Earth: A Terraformed Planet 1.3 Planetary Environments 1.4 Terraforming Mars 1.5 The Role of Solar Wind 1.6 Ethical Aspects 1.7 Venus, Moon, Titan… References Part 2 ENGINEERING MARS 2 Terraforming Worlds: Humans Playing Games of Gods Early Mars Oceans Here and There The Mars We are Creating Here Mars: An Arena of Delusions? References 3 Mars, A Stepping-Stone World, Macro-Engineered 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Mars-Crust as Kinetic Architecture 3.3 A Crust-Infrastructure Mixture 3.4 Infrastructure and Life-Styles 3.5 Atmosphere Enhancements for Mars 3.6 Between Then and Now Acknowledgments References 4 Efficient Martian Settlement with the Mars Terraformer Transfer (MATT) and the Omaha Trail 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Construction Efficiencies of MATT’s Small-Scale Terraformation 4.3 Provisioning Efficiencies of the Omaha Trail 4.4 Cosmic Ray Protection: From Omaha Trail to Omaha Shield 4.5 Conclusion References 5 Mars Colonization: Beyond Getting There 5.1 Mars Colonization – Do We Need it? 5.2 Legal Considerations 5.3 Ethical Considerations 5.4 Consideration of Resources 5.5 Quo Vadis, the Only Civilization We Know? 5.6 Afterword. Where are We Three Years Later? Acknowledgements References Part 3 ETHICAL EXPLORATION 6 The Ethics of Terraforming: A Critical Survey of Six Arguments 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Audience and Method 6.3 Preservationist Arguments 6.4 Interventionist Arguments 6.5 Conclusion Acknowledgments References 7 Homo Reductio Eco-Nihilism and Human Colonization of Other Worlds 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Implicit Assumptions 7.3 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 8 Ethical, Political and Legal Challenges Relating to Colonizing and Terraforming Mars 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Ethical Issues in Colonizing and Terraforming Mars 8.3 Ethics of Human Enhancement for Space 8.4 Environmental Ethics in Space 8.5 Political Issues in Colonizing and Terraforming Mars 8.6 Legal Issues in Colonizing and Terraforming Mars 8.7 Sexual and Reproductive Laws in a Mars Colony 8.8 Migration Law in Space 8.9 Why Terraforming Mars May Be Necessary from Ethical, Political and Legal Perspectives 8.10 Conclusions References Part 4 INDIGENOUS LIFE ON MARS 9 Life on Mars: Past, Present, and Future 9.1 A Very Brief Historical Introduction 9.2 Indigenous Life: Past and Present 9.3 Seeded Life: The Future 9.4 Per Aspera ad Astra References 10 Terraforming on Early Mars? 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Outline of Section 10.2 10.3 Novel Interpretation of the Formation Process Based on Mineral Assemblages 10.4 Conclusion Acknowledgment References Part 5 LIVING ON MARS 11 Omaha Field – A Magnetostatic Cosmic Radiation Shield for a Crewed Mars Facility 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Methods 11.3 Design 11.4 Results 11.5 Discussion References 12 Mars Future Settlements: Active Radiation Shielding and Design Criteria About Habitats and Infrastructures 12.1 Introduction 12.2 The Problem of Cosmic Radiations 12.3 The Protection System with Artificial Magnetic Fields 12.4 Details of Our Proposal 12.5 Further Developments 12.6 Modular Settlement on Mars Acknowledgments References 13 Crop Growth and Viability of Seeds on Mars and Moon Soil Simulants 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Materials and Methods 13.3 Results 13.4 Discussion 13.5 Outlook Issues for the Future Acknowledgements References Appendix 14 The First Settlement of Mars 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Colony Location 14.3 Colony Timeline 14.4 Colony Design 14.5 The Basics – Power, Air, Water, Food 14.6 The Material World 14.7 Exports, Economics, Investment and Cash Flow 14.8 Politics – A Socialist’s World 14.9 Conclusion and Further Thoughts References Part 6 IN SITU RESOURCES 15 Vulcanism on Mars 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Martian Geology 15.3 Vulcanism References 16 Potential Impact-Related Mineral Resources on Mars Introduction Conclusions References 17 Red Gold – Practical Methods for Precious-Metal Survey, Open-Pit Mining, and Open-Air Refining on Mars 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Martian Precious-Metal Ore from Asteroids 17.3 Martian Precious-Metal Survey and Physical Assay 17.4 “Mars Base Alpha” – A Red Gold Mining Camp 17.5 Semi-Autonomous Open-Pit Mining 17.6 Comminution and Separation of Meteoric Ore 17.7 Extracting Metals with Induction/Microwave Smelter 17.8 Refining with Hydrometallurgical Recovery and the Miller Process 17.9 Separating Precious Metals with Saltwater Electrolysis 17.10 Kovar Foundry 17.11 Maximizing ISRU, Minimizing Mass and Complexity 17.12 Scale-Up and Scale-Out 17.13 Conclusion, with Observations and Recommendations References Part 7 TERRAFORMING MARS 18 Terraforming Mars: A Cabinet of Curiosities 18.1 Introduction and Overview 18.2 Planet Mars: A Brief Observational History and Overview 18.3 The Beginnings of Change 18.4 The Foundations 18.5 First Blush 18.6 Digging In 18.7 (re)Building the Martian Atmosphere 18.8 Magnetic Shielding 18.9 Heating the Ground 18.10 A Question of Time 18.11 Conclusions References 19 Terraforming Mars Rapidly Using Today’s Level of Technology 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Solar Wind 19.3 Conclusions Acknowledgments References 20 System Engineering Analysis of Terraforming Mars with an Emphasis on Resource Importation Technology 20.1 Summary 20.2 Introduction 20.3 Key Problem 20.4 Key Stakeholders 20.5 Goals 20.6 Macro Level Alternatives 20.7 Macro-Level Trade Study 20.8 Macro-Level Conclusions 20.9 Terraforming Efforts System - Detailed Requirements 20.10 Space Transportation System 20.11 Importing Resources Subsystem 20.12 Risks 20.13 Lean Strategies 20.14 Ethical Considerations 20.15 Overall Conclusions 20.16 Acknowledgements 20.17 Appendix References 21 The Potential of Pioneer Lichens in Terraforming Mars 21.1 Introduction 21.2 Potential Role of Lichens in Terraformation 21.3 Exploiting Indigenous Lichens 21.4 Exploiting Lichen Symbionts on Mars 21.5 Inoculating Lichen Symbionts from Earth Cultures 21.6 Transplanting Terrestrial Lichens to Mars 21.7 Conclusions References Index End User License Agreement