The word 'terraformation' (or terraforming) refers to the act of making a planet suit for life, where humans could settle. I had known about that idea for some time, but I recently learned more. I usually don't have much interest for physics and chemistry, but this seems interesting...


Wiki

And more

Terraforming Mars


Any thoughts?

I'm usually against the spending of billions for space programs while so many people are starving here on Earth, but from a long-term point of view, terraformation seems very interesting... :)

Now that you mention it, it is kinda cool to consider.

With the genre of space-based exploration-style games, there is sometimes the option to terraform planets to support larger colonies. While I have a hard time imagining that we can optimize a breathable atmosphere where there is none in an age where we can't control polution, I do believe that we can improve soil via artificial irrigation and cultivation techniques.

Even some asteroids/meteors have carbon make-up (though usually Carbon-14) which is quite lucious for supporting plant life on Earth. So sure, I can see learning to develop off-planet farms. It would require millions of tons of carbon-dioxide (CO2) to be pumped into the lower atmosphere of a moon/planet to develop any kind of Earth-like ozone. The worst thing to happen is that we'd create greenhouse gases in space which do not remain within it's gravitational pull.

They always mention Terraforming on Star Trek and whatnot, but it would be awsome if we could actually do that!

But is it really a good idea? Would it be good for Mars if we tried to terraform it?

How exactly could we do something "bad" for Mars, basically a dead planet as far as I can tell.

Indeed. Some people question the ethics of terraformation, because they think it is against nature to intervene like that. But let's face it, life is just about the most interesting thing that was created. We can even say it is the ultimate achievement of the Universe. Spreading life on dead planets will cause no harm to anyone and will even make those planets much better places.

Even if Mankind did not plan to settle on other planets, we should try nonetheless to spread life. Just because we can. We have even begun to do so unvoluntarily: apparently, some vehicles sent on Mars have accidentally brought some bacteria, and it appears that those bacteria are able to survive even on this dead planet...

I find it interesting, Che, that someone who seemed to think that a base on the moon, which would be the first logical step on the road to terraformation, is such a huge waste, would be so interested in terraforming.

Terraforming is a long-term project. It would be spread on centuries, not a few years.

Besides, it won't be as expensive and difficult as it sounds: most of the work will be done by nature itself, if we just take the first step. We don't even need a permanent base. If we spread on Mars some very resisting lichen (or vegetal bacteria) that are able to survive the near-absence of an atmosphere, it could create enough oxygen for more advanced forms of life. It would take a long time, of course... But even if Mankind ceases to exist long before it is possible for us to live on Mars, at least life will continue.

As Doctor Malcolm says in Jurassic Park: "Life finds a way."

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It might be a long time, but we don't just jump onto Mars and start doing it, we need to do it in a step by step process, and the first step would be a fixed location off planet.