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[ScatheZombie]

Earth.

We can't even solve global climate problems on our own planet that we already live on.

It would actually be more feasible to launch an self-sustaining Ark-ship into deep space to try to find a new, already habitable planet thousands of years away than it is to actually terraform any of the planets within our own solar system.

 

[Prosopon]

Mars:

Venus:

Do Mars first.

 

[Slayer-33]

Mars:



Venus:



Do Mars first.

+1

 

[Apath]

Maybe I wrote off Venus too early. Reading up, maybe Cloud Cities would be workable:

Cloud cities is the reason why my vote goes to Venus.

 

[MrBigBoy]

If Mars is sometimes too cold, can we somehow push/guide it closer to the sun? Sounds ridiculous but wouldn't it be better than hitting it with a rock?

 

[Shining Sunshine]

I can't imagine how the temperature would be on those planets even if they were Earth-like.

They are in the Golden zone, but Earth is smack dab in the middle. I mean, is Venus going to be way hotter since it's closer? Is Mars going to be too cold?

I can't even stand California heat.

 

[SkyOdin]

While Mars would be the easier prospect short-term (in so far as you can describe terraforming as "short"), in the long-term it is the less attractive option out of the two planets. While it is possible to generate enough of a breathable atmosphere to allow plants and animals to live on the planet's surface, the last I heard was that any such atmosphere would ultimately prove to be temporary. The low gravity and high amount of incoming radiation would render terraforming efforts to either be temporary or require a lot of maintenance. Even after fully terraforming Mars, you also just can't get around its low gravity. We still have no idea whether or not human beings can even live in gravity that low.

The low gravity of Mars makes it a very attractive planet for industry and mining, but it is very likely that it would be a planet where most of the population lives in orbital colonies (which can have whatever effective gravity you want), who only temporarily live on the surface for work reasons.

On the other hand, if you can somehow deal with Venus's runaway greenhouse, it would practically be Earth 2.0. It has much more similar gravity to Earth than Mars, for one thing. Also, while Venus doesn't have a true magnetic field currently, it is still volcanically active with most of the pre-conditions for creating a magnetic field. So it is much more likely for people to start a magnetic field in Venus than on Mars (which has completely cooled internally).

Of course, dealing with the atmosphere would be a monumental challenge that might never be feasible. On the other hand, cloud cities are cool. We could just stick with those.

 

[gutshot]

If Mars is sometimes too cold, can we somehow push/guide it closer to the sun? Sounds ridiculous but wouldn't it be better than hitting it with a rock?

Lack of sunlight isn't the main problem. It's the lack of an atmosphere, which terraforming is supposed to fix.

 

[MrBigBoy]

Lack of sunlight isn't the main problem. It's the lack of an atmosphere, which terraforming is supposed to fix.

Ok thanks for clarifying.

They are in the Golden zone, but Earth is smack dab in the middle.

For humans and other Earth life forms is our middle spot perfect, but other lifeforms may like colder or hotter envirorments better.

Can't we change our DNA so we could better adapt to extreme temperatures?

 

[Vandiger]

I want to change my vote, Venus. I picked Mars too quickly without any thought.

 

[zeemumu]

Mercury would be hilariously hot and boring, and Venus would have shit weather.

 

[Slayer-33]

Mercury would be hilariously hot and boring, and Venus would have shit weather.

Mercury lol.. Not even for consideration bro :/

 

[Shining Sunshine]

While Mars would be the easier prospect short-term (in so far as you can describe terraforming as "short"), in the long-term it is the less attractive option out of the two planets. While it is possible to generate enough of a breathable atmosphere to allow plants and animals to live on the planet's surface, the last I heard was that any such atmosphere would ultimately prove to be temporary. The low gravity and high amount of incoming radiation would render terraforming efforts to either be temporary or require a lot of maintenance. Even after fully terraforming Mars, you also just can't get around its low gravity. We still have no idea whether or not human beings can even live in gravity that low.

The low gravity of Mars makes it a very attractive planet for industry and mining, but it is very likely that it would be a planet where most of the population lives in orbital colonies (which can have whatever effective gravity you want), who only temporarily live on the surface for work reasons.

On the other hand, if you can somehow deal with Venus's runaway greenhouse, it would practically be Earth 2.0. It has much more similar gravity to Earth than Mars, for one thing. Also, while Venus doesn't have a true magnetic field currently, it is still volcanically active with most of the pre-conditions for creating a magnetic field. So it is much more likely for people to start a magnetic field in Venus than on Mars (which has completely cooled internally).

Of course, dealing with the atmosphere would be a monumental challenge that might never be feasible. On the other hand, cloud cities are cool. We could just stick with those.

Venus is theorized to have breathable atmosphere right now in the clouds, so it might already be habitable.

Solving Mars's issue of creating a Magnetosphere that could deflect solar winds would be a bigger challenge. Mars is said to have a molten core, which would make it not possible to be like Earth in terms of having the same kind of magnetosphere.

Earth is just a rare jewel in the galaxy that it's hard to think that there is any other planet that had the same, perfect probability of chemicals and minerals, interacting during the formation of the planet.

 

[commedieu]

Venus is theorized to have breathable atmosphere right now in the clouds, so it might already be habitable.

Solving Mars's issue of creating a Magnetosphere that could deflect solar winds would be a bigger challenge. Mars is said to have a molten core, which would make it not possible to be like Earth in terms of having the same kind of magnetosphere.

Earth is just a rare jewel in the galaxy that it's hard to think that there is any other planet that had the same, perfect probability of chemicals and minerals, interacting during the formation of the planet.

Earth is the only one with plate tectonics aint it?

 

[80s Bad Guy]

Ok thanks for clarifying.

For humans and other Earth life forms is our middle spot perfect, but other lifeforms may like colder or hotter envirorments better.

Can't we change our DNA so we could better adapt to extreme temperatures?

For a pretty adaptable species we're hilariously picky about our living conditions. Not too hot, not too cold, not too bright, not too dark...we're the most unnatural creatures in the natural environment.

As long as we can put an air-conditioner in and heated floor tiles down, we could live anywhere.

 

[criesofthepast]

Set up a base on the moon before going anywhere. Having a base on the moon makes exploring other planets 10000000000% easier.

 

[commedieu]

For a pretty adaptable species we're hilariously picky about our living conditions. Not too hot, not too cold, not too bright, not too dark...we're the most unnatural creatures in the natural environment.

As long as we can put an air-conditioner in and heated floor tiles down, we could live anywhere.

That might be for humans, but other flora and fauna live in conditions that defy the rules. Deepest seas, sulfuric environments, etc

 

[Zekes!]

Both seemed kinda dope in Cowboy Bebop

 

[gutshot]

Venus is theorized to have breathable atmosphere right now in the clouds, so it might already be habitable.

Solving Mars's issue of creating a Magnetosphere that could deflect solar winds would be a bigger challenge. Mars is said to have a molten core, which would make it not possible to be like Earth in terms of having the same kind of magnetosphere.

Earth is just a rare jewel in the galaxy that it's hard to think that there is any other planet that had the same, perfect probability of chemicals and minerals, interacting during the formation of the planet.

Really? There are over 100 billion planets in our galaxy. Odds are there are more than a few Earths out there.

 

[gutshot]

Set up a base on the moon before going anywhere. Having a base on the moon makes exploring other planets 10000000000% easier.

A space station at one of the Lagrange points would likely be better. Then you don't have to contend with the Moon's gravity well when landing and launching interplanetary spacecraft.

 

[qcf x2]

Ok thanks for clarifying.

For humans and other Earth life forms is our middle spot perfect, but other lifeforms may like colder or hotter envirorments better.

Can't we change our DNA so we could better adapt to extreme temperatures?

Only if you wanna look like an alien. My vote would go to Mars, because terraforming Venus would probably take a lot longer. Even if you fix the atmosphere and create an ocean, that's gonna be a highly toxic ocean. Mars needs a magnetic field and oxygen, seems a bit less impossible. I'm sad nobody talks about Titan anymore

 

[SkyOdin]

Earth.

We can't even solve global climate problems on our own planet that we already live on.

It would actually be more feasible to launch an self-sustaining Ark-ship into deep space to try to find a new, already habitable planet thousands of years away than it is to actually terraform any of the planets within our own solar system.

Err... no. That is not more feasible. Finding an Earth-like planet out in the galaxy is an endeavor that will take millennia. It is an outrageously difficult task. Terraforming Mars would take less time and effort, and is achievable with less technological development. In any event, any planets we find out near other stars are likely to be imperfect, just like Mars and Venus are. Finding a way to live in non-ideal environments would be just as necessary for your proposal.

In any event, "terraforming Mars/Venus", and "finding an Earth-like planet near another star" are not our only options. The earliest feasible option is simple to create large scale space habitats in Earth/Moon orbit. We can build those near Earth, and by then using those as a stepping stone, build them wherever we want in the Solar System. Once we have a few located in, say, Sun/Mars L4 and L5, we can use them as an easy base to start terraforming work.

By the time we are even ready to engage in planetary terraforming, humanity will already be likely living in orbit of places as far away as Neptune, and have access to considerably greater resources than we do here on Earth. Branching out to places outside the Solar System will probably wait until we have finished expanding across the Solar System, which is still a very vast landscape for human settlement.

A space station at one of the Lagrange points would likely be better. Then you don't have to contend with the Moon's gravity well when landing and launching interplanetary spacecraft.

Of course, it is better to do both: use materials from the Moon to build space habitats at the Lagrange points. It is much easier to lift materials off the Moon than it is to bring them up from Earth. You can build an orbital elevator from the Moon's surface using Kevlar, so it is pretty easy to get stuff up into space from there.

 

[diaspora]

Unless someone finds a way to give Mars a magnetic field, it's kinda out of the question.

 

[RedShift]

Mars has a chance of not being swallowed by the sun when it turns into a red giant. Venus has no chance.

Even without FTL travel, in 4 million years humans (or something deriving from us) will either have colonized the entire galaxy or gone extinct. The sun dying billions of years from now is not a problem.

 

[Angry Grimace]

There's a huge debate as to what Venus's surface would be like if you gave it Earth's atmosphere. One theory is that all the water would evaporate and the surface would be entirely clouds anyways.

 

[besada]

why is Mercury even an option

The thing is way too close to the Sun for anyone to survive there unless they are constantly shifting to the dark side. And then you have to deal with the freezing temperatures.

Actually, there are polar areas which maintain consistent temperatures that are liveable, but since you're asking about protection from the Sun, it appears you didn't read the part where I suggested we'll be underground, regardless of where we go, with the exception of inverted Venus, where we'll have to live in the skies.

As far as terraforming any of the planets, you're going to have to learn to work with either enormous sun shades or equally enormous solettas. Venus and Mercury would both need sun shades (which will do the double duty of being orbital solar collectors), while Mars will need a soletta to focus the distant sun and warm up the planet. In all cases we're talking about thousands of years of work, most of which needs to be overseen locally, which means living on inhospitable planets long before we make them comfortable. In most cases, as I said earlier, it will always be cheaper to adapt ourselves and our technologies, rather than trying to adapt an entire planetary system.

 

[Ganzlinger]

Sailor Venus all the way.

lol at Mercury being considered.

 

[killer rin]

How do we stop the whole "anything that touches the surface, melts" thing with Venus? That seems like a bit of a hurdle.

NASA has an idea

 

[Human_me]

Venus would be better due to its same size/gravity to earth.
However its current environment make it a lot harder to do.

Where as Mar's would be easier to do but won't be as Earth like.

I say do Mars first.
If we fuck it up then at least it won't happen to Venus.

 

[Ganzlinger]

If we go to Venus, the Final Countdown is the obligatory soundtrack.

 

[rezn0r]

Judging by my experience with Destiny, Venus by far

 

[sphinx]

In most cases, as I said earlier, it will always be cheaper to adapt ourselves and our technologies, rather than trying to adapt an entire planetary system.

what exactly are you suggesting here?

 

[HK-47]

Isnt a huge problem with Mars its lack of a magnetosphere? I dont think we can restart Mars's spin.

 

[Ragnorok64]

Mars...?

 

[Dreamgazer]

I can't help but feel that someone must have voted based on their sailor scout preferences.

 

[Wolfe]

I feel like this is a pointless.... point?

Sephzilla telling Spiralzilla how it is.

Earth is just a rare jewel in the galaxy that it's hard to think that there is any other planet that had the same, perfect probability of chemicals and minerals, interacting during the formation of the planet.

If you had said solar system I would have agreed with you, bug galaxy? Hahaha.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Crash Mars into Venus at just the right angle and momentum and create a new proto-Earth. Wait a few billion years and then we can move there, which gives us about a week or two of bliss before the sun engulfs us.

All aboard.

 

[Rentahamster]

Mars seems easier, so Mars.

 

[hydragonwarrior]

C'mon, make the Sun an option too

 

[Truant]

Wait, that photo from Venus is real? When did that happen? Mind blown.

 

[RedShift]

Wait, that photo from Venus is real? When did that happen? Mind blown.

The Russians landed a few probes there.

If I remember right the cameras tended to dissolve in the atmosphere incredibly quickly.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

C'mon, make the Sun an option too

Terraforming the sun would involve creating a new sun just far enough away.

So basically... sure, let's give it a shot.

 

[timetokill]

Obviously Mars, where it's actually somewhat feasible.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Wait, that photo from Venus is real? When did that happen? Mind blown.

1982

NASA has an idea

Seems like a cool idea, but I don't know about sending actual astronauts there. I laughed when I saw there were actually two people in that blimp.

 

[The Lamonster]

Mars, easily

 

[besada]

what exactly are you suggesting here?

I'm suggesting we'll adapt our physiologies to match the planet, rather than change the planet to match us. I'd suspect a mix of the two. Plump up the atmosphere of Mars a bit, but modify ourselves to be comfortable in a diminished atmosphere. In that case, we already have good ideas about the modifications needed, since entire cultures live in thin atmospheres here on Earth. Both the Andeans and Tibetans are used to functioning with considerably less oxygen than the rest of us, and carry genetic mutations that make this possible.

So, given that Mars is always going to have a hard time keeping its atmosphere, and given that it's existing atmosphere is negligible, we'll have to increase both pressure and amount of available oxygen. If we can get it up to even 60% of the amount of oxygen at sea-level on Earth, colonists with the Andean or Tibetan genetic mutation could live comfortably there.

 

[G.ZZZ]

Mercury is basically a ball of metal covered by a thin layer of rocks. That's a lot to mine there, but i'm not feeling it.

Venus has one huge problem, it doesn't spin. While terraforming Mars is realistically doable even now (but need a lot of time to do obviously), accellerating the rotation of a planet is outside the realm of our technology now. The best i could think of is grazing the planet with a huge meteor coming from a inside orbit, pushing venus both on a larger orbit and giving it a spin. The athmosphere is relatively easy after that. But it's far out there. Terraforming Mars by sending there huge industries producing greenhouse gases and modified algaes able to survive in that atmosphere etc...

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I totally get that modifying humanity to fit Mars is easier than the reverse, but it's just so much less romantic. :/

 

[killer rin]

I think Venus would be easier to Terraform, plus its something we could start doing today if we really had the political will.

Venus already has a form of magnetic shielding and a filled up atmosphere, so pretty much our main problem with Venus is the atmospheric composition and the issue of water. So pretty much to start we build cloud cities and for a hundred years or so thats where Humanity lives.

While Humanity is living out, we can use algea and other plants and have those float at the very top layer of the inhabitable atmosphere slowly eating away at the carbon dioxide and other acidic gasses. If we really want to speed things up, we can use science and bombard the lower atmosphere with chemicals which would induce a chemical reaction with the atmosphere to produce water, oxygen, hydrogen and other less-lethal gasses.

Of course its more complicated than that, but compared to mars where you have to restart the core, then get the atmosphere, then get the water...and in the meantime build dome cities, it is much easier

 

[AlphaPlus]

I'd recommend Venus. Dem cloud cities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ5KV3rzuag