Mars’ surface gravity is 38% of earth’s. It would be a neat trick to get it up to a full G.
And give mars a new magnetic field to replace the one it lost when its core cooled and solidified.
And if they could do that, they might be able to spin Mars up to where its day that matches Earth’s.
…which would scare the heck out of every earthling who knows what doing those things would take and how easily a civilization capable of such things could swat Earth like a fly.
Doesn’t gravity have something to do with keeping the atmosphere from floating off into space?
Hariman
I think they’d need to import a moon at some point too, as I’ve heard about the moon skimming some of the atmosphere off of Earth being beneficial to maintaining a balance of/for life.
Yes gravity is important for retaining atmosphere but raising Mars to an earth-level density atmosphere would provide an atmosphere that would take millions of years to dissipate if not far longer. Odds are without extreme effort no sentient life would be left to care by that point anyway, if there were more than likely the tech would remain to replenish the atmosphere as needed.
Chakat Firepaw
More important are the magnetosphere and the presence of an “ice trap”. Gravity helps, but the bigger issue is the solar wind pulling stuff off the top.
A magnetosphere reduces the amount of solar wind impacting the atmosphere.
An ice trap, (an altitude range where water freezes out and falls back into the lower atmosphere), keeps hydrogen and oxygen away from the solar wind that does get through.
Ok, so they need to ignite the core and manipulate the planet to spin just a little faster. 😀 As for the moon, I think they’re going to build a Death star. >:D
Iron Ed
Kewl! 🙂 I have read scifi stories with moon-sized spaceships. I think even planet-sized.
Check out the webcomic A Miracle Of Science, the Martians turned one of Mars’ moon into a giant space ship that they actually moved near the end of the strip to rescue one of its members.
Ancient super terraforming technology from the Rumuah precursors who created the Cyantians. (Tiff’s info, not my guess, from a similar question a while back.)
Also, now I have the image of either Syrys or Quinn patting a earth diplomat on the head and telling them that it will be okay, they’re not the world swatting types, and then either laughing or giggling when the diplomat gets offended/huffy.
Plus, I’m pretty sure that some of the governments DID notice that something was up with Mars, and that’s why the AMIB is so nervous/suspicious of the Cyantians.
Gravity, over time, would be a big deal. Some of the problems with extended weightlessness is that astronauts lose bone density in zero-g, and muscles, including internal organs, begin to atrophy. The effect at <1g would not be as significant as full zero-g, but it would compound over time. So one of three things would have to happen for Mars to become a permanent settlement: 1) Strictly limit the amount of time any person spends on Mars at a time and rotate in and out; 2) They would need to raise the planet's gravity; 3) They would need to genetically engineer a human species that could thrive at the reduced gravity level. In order of progressive difficulty.
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14 thoughts on “Campus Safari Chapter 12 09”
Vorlonagent
Mars’ surface gravity is 38% of earth’s. It would be a neat trick to get it up to a full G.
And give mars a new magnetic field to replace the one it lost when its core cooled and solidified.
And if they could do that, they might be able to spin Mars up to where its day that matches Earth’s.
…which would scare the heck out of every earthling who knows what doing those things would take and how easily a civilization capable of such things could swat Earth like a fly.
sundale2
The day length doesn’t matter. Humans would simply maintain their schedule, or close to it.
The gravity thing I’m not sure how big an issue it is. On it’s own, may not matter.
The magnetic field does matter though as you’ll need some way to mitigate the radiation coming in.
Even doing that much would be nerve wracking for many considering we can barely make it to Mars and get back right now. And even that is in doubt.
Iron Ed
Doesn’t gravity have something to do with keeping the atmosphere from floating off into space?
Hariman
I think they’d need to import a moon at some point too, as I’ve heard about the moon skimming some of the atmosphere off of Earth being beneficial to maintaining a balance of/for life.
Nightmask
Yes gravity is important for retaining atmosphere but raising Mars to an earth-level density atmosphere would provide an atmosphere that would take millions of years to dissipate if not far longer. Odds are without extreme effort no sentient life would be left to care by that point anyway, if there were more than likely the tech would remain to replenish the atmosphere as needed.
Chakat Firepaw
More important are the magnetosphere and the presence of an “ice trap”. Gravity helps, but the bigger issue is the solar wind pulling stuff off the top.
A magnetosphere reduces the amount of solar wind impacting the atmosphere.
An ice trap, (an altitude range where water freezes out and falls back into the lower atmosphere), keeps hydrogen and oxygen away from the solar wind that does get through.
TiffRoss
Ok, so they need to ignite the core and manipulate the planet to spin just a little faster. 😀 As for the moon, I think they’re going to build a Death star. >:D
Iron Ed
Kewl! 🙂 I have read scifi stories with moon-sized spaceships. I think even planet-sized.
sundale2
Ever read the Troy trilogy? The guy built a death star, funded by the craziest of methods.
Nightmask
Check out the webcomic A Miracle Of Science, the Martians turned one of Mars’ moon into a giant space ship that they actually moved near the end of the strip to rescue one of its members.
Hariman
Ancient super terraforming technology from the Rumuah precursors who created the Cyantians. (Tiff’s info, not my guess, from a similar question a while back.)
Also, now I have the image of either Syrys or Quinn patting a earth diplomat on the head and telling them that it will be okay, they’re not the world swatting types, and then either laughing or giggling when the diplomat gets offended/huffy.
Plus, I’m pretty sure that some of the governments DID notice that something was up with Mars, and that’s why the AMIB is so nervous/suspicious of the Cyantians.
Iceburgh
I’d see Quinn doing it far more than Syrys. Quinn tends toward “childishness.” I could also honestly see Darius doing that, too.
Talis Mahn
Someone at NASA mentioned putting a magnetic shield at the Martian/sun L1 point to shield explorers from solar radiation
Maryalee
Gravity, over time, would be a big deal. Some of the problems with extended weightlessness is that astronauts lose bone density in zero-g, and muscles, including internal organs, begin to atrophy. The effect at <1g would not be as significant as full zero-g, but it would compound over time. So one of three things would have to happen for Mars to become a permanent settlement: 1) Strictly limit the amount of time any person spends on Mars at a time and rotate in and out; 2) They would need to raise the planet's gravity; 3) They would need to genetically engineer a human species that could thrive at the reduced gravity level. In order of progressive difficulty.
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