What is Terraforming?

“I think humans will reach Mars, and I would like to see it happen in my lifetime” was said by Buzz Aldrin, a NASA astronaut. The former American aeronaut from Montclair, New Jersey believes that since Mars does exist, it is waiting to be reached by humans. When this would happen, he says that the human race would “evolve into a two-planet species.” Present day Mars has a lot of canyons, mountains and volcanoes. Even though the surface is Mars is very old, scientists learned about different younger rift valleys, plains, hills and ridges. According to recent reports, there were lakes and rivers, along with an ocean billions of years ago. The low temperatures on the planet cause there to be polar ice caps and frozen water present. Scientists continue to notice several discoveries on the planet that lead them to think there was once life on the planet. Different clues have scientists wanting to find out about even more. Many scientists in the past few centuries have been curious if life on Mars is possible or if it has ever been before.

To most ancient peoples, Mars was a god, harbinger of war and destruction. While our knowledge of the nature of Mars changed greatly over the ensuing centuries, the attraction Mars holds for the human imagination never waned and continues to our day. Since the discovery that Mars was in fact a planet similar to Earth, the idea that it might harbor intelligent life has enthralled many people. Thus it is only natural that science fiction authors, those members of the human race who put into print the imagination of the species, should turn much of their efforts to speculation about the form and nature of such life. What is striking about this body of literature depicting Mars is its homogeneity. While the methods of presentation may vary from work to work, two themes truly dominate the genre: first, the decay and decline of Mars as a planet and Martian civilization in particular and second, the impact which humanity has on Mars and the ways in which Mars, in turn, impacts those earthlings who live on it, especially evident in the transformation of earthlings into Martians.

Scientists have dreamt over the possibility that it may be possible to live on another planet. Some think that Mars has that potential to support life, if it's hidden resources are uncovered and exploited to their full potential. There is even evidence that it once contained enough water that it had been possible to hold life. Think about it, what if we could transform it into such a place, even if only our children's children get to see any result? The following will describe Mars, present evidence of ice and water, give possible ideas for the future exploration of Mars, and give reasons for why it is important.

Mars is about half the size of Earth and is lacking a thick protective atmosphere that our Earth has. Mars is also a rocky planet with a similar core to that of Earth’s, mainly iron and sulfur. Mars is comprised of a mantle and crust just like Earth that is made up of iron oxide and basalt which is what gives Mars is distinct reddish color. The Romans named the planet Mars, after the god of war due to its bloody reddish color. Mars is also known to have the tallest volcano in our solar system, Olympus Mons, although it does not have an active lava flow. Now we have to observe some of the possibilities of what creatures could possible living on or under Mars’s surface.

On Mars it will be the same. There will be individuals who are pro-terraforming and those who are against it. There will be extremists and neutralists. In Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson, the sides are designated by colors. "Greens", or terraforming supporters, are in constant conflict with the "Reds".[3] These have become the most common terms for describing people involved in terraformation debates.

Mars has intrigued mankind for centuries, and ever since “War of the Worlds” caused mass hysteria over all of America, we have wondered if there is, or ever has been life on Mars. In today’s age of technology, we know that there are no little green men running around on Mars, and our attention has shifted to the location and analysis of Martian water and its history. That is the primary reason for the Martian Ice and Water Analysis Mission, or MIWA Mission. Following the primary Martian exploration plan of “Follow the Water,” the MIWA Mission is the next logical step in our exploration and research of Martian water. This mission will not only expand on the findings of the Mars Phoenix mission and the failed Mars Polar Lander, but it will do so from the heart of the biggest known Martian ice reservoir: the North Pole. Also, the relative simplicity and fairly lax technology development deadlines of the mission, coupled with the use of previous, proven technologies, all but guarantees the mission’s success.

This planet is about half the size of Earth, and the second smallest planet in our Solar system. Mars is usually known as the “Red Planet” because of its red color, which is due to the concentration of iron oxide and dust and rock covering its surface, yet it’s the main component is Carbon Dioxide. Mars has a very thin atmosphere, which leads to a wide range in temperatures because it cannot trap solar heat. Hence, Mars’ temperature is a lot colder than that of Earth’s, at about minus 80° Fahrenheit. Mars is home to the highest mountains and volcanoes in the Solar System, such as Olympus Mons (biggest volcano) and Valles Marineris (one of the largest canyons). Mars experiences seasons just like Earth, except that they are twice as long as that of Earth’s. The explanation for these giant mountains is Mars weak surface gravity. Mars has two known moons, Phobos, and Deimos. Mars is currently a very important target for NASA and other space exploration because it is the planet most prone to life, after Earth.

NASA’s latest mars rover, Curiosity, is currently exploring mats, on a mission to determine wheather life could exist there. If we’re going to colonize mars - and some scientists say we must - its likely that we’ll start by terraforming. Terraforming, or planetary engineering, is the process of altering the climate of a planet to be more hospitable to life and human exploration. Of all the bodies in the solar system, Mars is by far the best candidate.

Mars, the beautiful red planet, is the most similar planet to earth. The terrain in general is very close to what we are used to on earth, minus the vegetation. Earth and Mars both contain polar ice caps. Mars also has water throughout the planet, but it is mostly subsoil.

Since 1976, when the Viking Landers took off toward the red planet, people have been wondering if there is life on Mars. There have been questions of pictures taken from Mars and skepticism about why some of the recent landings have failed. Scientists, up till now, have been doubtful about life on Mars.