Given the incredible advancements in technology in the past decade alone, it’s only natural that mankind would look to the final frontier once again. While considering the question of Mars colonization, we, as a society must consider cost factors of commuting and terraforming. The question of funding arises, exposing an even bigger dilemma of international cooperation. The factors bolstering humans to colonize are balanced by ethical and economic tethers that keep us here on Earth.
Before we delve into the debate of how such a project should be funded, the cost of the transportation of humans and their belongings should be estimated. To start, the CH4/O2 propellant is 14$ a kilogram, and the entire operation will take approximately seven times …show more content…
The Mars environment is far from ideal, with climate averaging 122 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, planet-wide barren landscapes, and depleted CO2 levels in the atmosphere. If a terraforming process is not implemented, the water and crops will have to be transported from Earth at a costly price. Terraforming is the alteration of an environment, in this case Mars, to be sustainable for terrestrial life. For homosapians, H20, O2, and Carbon are nessecities for basic functions. Mars lacks all of these essential elements to sustain human life. For a solution, one of the main feats with the terraforming process of Mars would need to be the regulation of its CO2 levels and climate. Fortunately, rather than spend copious amounts on transporting and establishing CO2 pumps, the natural laws of gasses will take care of themselves. In the words of Michio Kaku, all the planet needs is a ”jumpstart”: by heating the planet a slight amount, the CO2 held within the composition will be released, and in turn raise the temperature of the planet. Thus begins a positive feedback loop of increases in CO2 levels and temperature (Kaku). The methods to kick-off this process haven’t been formulated yet, but some ideas include creation of a dome with insulation, controlled explosives, or other chemical-mechanical processes. Universally, it is agreed that the terraforming process should consist of an artificial greenhouse to …show more content…
In Tuttle’s 2014 article "Space: risk 's final frontier" she calculates that the United States spent $41.26 billion and other governments allowed $32.84 billion. She comments that regardless of the government 's’ budget, “the industry grew 4% to a record $314.17 billion” (Tuttle). The article points to private companies for the cheapest space exploration missions of our time. One such company, SpaceX, Tuttle claims, “has managed to offer private enterprise and government organizations some of the lowest launch prices in the industry”. It’s been shared that Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has planned the company 's course towards manned space travel, and certainly in the direction of interplanetary mobilization to Mars. Whether private or public programs, it seems the goal has been set on reaching our neighboring
Before we delve into the debate of how such a project should be funded, the cost of the transportation of humans and their belongings should be estimated. To start, the CH4/O2 propellant is 14$ a kilogram, and the entire operation will take approximately seven times …show more content…
The Mars environment is far from ideal, with climate averaging 122 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, planet-wide barren landscapes, and depleted CO2 levels in the atmosphere. If a terraforming process is not implemented, the water and crops will have to be transported from Earth at a costly price. Terraforming is the alteration of an environment, in this case Mars, to be sustainable for terrestrial life. For homosapians, H20, O2, and Carbon are nessecities for basic functions. Mars lacks all of these essential elements to sustain human life. For a solution, one of the main feats with the terraforming process of Mars would need to be the regulation of its CO2 levels and climate. Fortunately, rather than spend copious amounts on transporting and establishing CO2 pumps, the natural laws of gasses will take care of themselves. In the words of Michio Kaku, all the planet needs is a ”jumpstart”: by heating the planet a slight amount, the CO2 held within the composition will be released, and in turn raise the temperature of the planet. Thus begins a positive feedback loop of increases in CO2 levels and temperature (Kaku). The methods to kick-off this process haven’t been formulated yet, but some ideas include creation of a dome with insulation, controlled explosives, or other chemical-mechanical processes. Universally, it is agreed that the terraforming process should consist of an artificial greenhouse to …show more content…
In Tuttle’s 2014 article "Space: risk 's final frontier" she calculates that the United States spent $41.26 billion and other governments allowed $32.84 billion. She comments that regardless of the government 's’ budget, “the industry grew 4% to a record $314.17 billion” (Tuttle). The article points to private companies for the cheapest space exploration missions of our time. One such company, SpaceX, Tuttle claims, “has managed to offer private enterprise and government organizations some of the lowest launch prices in the industry”. It’s been shared that Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has planned the company 's course towards manned space travel, and certainly in the direction of interplanetary mobilization to Mars. Whether private or public programs, it seems the goal has been set on reaching our neighboring