If theres no life on mars why do we have ideas of Terra forming it?

Question

If there is basically no life on mars, why do we have this idea that we can Terra form it in the future? To terraform it wouldn't it need oxygen, and an atmosphere, and animals, if there are no main animals on the planet how can humans survive on it, and how can animals live on mars, it wont suit there terrain, and they would probably die instantly. So therefore isn't Terra forming mars like unrealistic?

Answer 1

Terraforming is at least a healthy challenge for brain if not an actual project.



There is probably no life on Mars. So the assignment is to build a whole balanced ecosystem.

Like on Earth, oxygen may be made by reducing atmospheric CO2 with cyanobacterias ("blue-green algae"): Mars atmosphere is 95 % of CO2.

Reducing iron oxide (which make Mars look red) needs energy but it's possible.



Bacterias will also turn regolith into humus. Only after that, we would be able to import the first plants from Earth, then some herbivorous animals. etc.



And yes, terraforming Mars is unrealistic in real life.

It would need a millennium long international cooperation on a very expensive project.

Answer 2

I don't think you understand what "terraforming" means.



You say that it needs oxygen and an atmosphere, and animals. Well, terraforming is the process of generating a suitable atmosphere and changing the physical and chemical makeup of the soil to make it suitable for plants and animals.



No-one is suggesting just dumping a bunch of people and animals on Mars - it would be a slow and gradual process that would probably take centuries. Kim Stanley Robinson wrote about terraforming Mars in his trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars). The books are long but outstanding stories.

Answer 3

Terraforming was basically an idea in science fiction. The problem is Mars is too small for its gravity to hold on to an Earth type atmosphere. First, one would need to increase Mars mass by causing a lot of asteroids to collide with it. This is a colossal undertaking which is not feasible for the foreseeable future.

Answer 4

Terraforming is the process of giving a planet an atmosphere, flora and fauna similar to that of Earth.

Answer 5

Mars is the closest to Earth in size, density, gravity, heat, etc.It's only natural for the idea of colonizing another planet to start with Mars.

Answer 6

this might nicely be a bias opinion. i think of shall we habitat mars yet I do have faith there have been already inhabitants. Mars replaced into left for a reason, probably sucked dry of food, yet they are asserting they are in a position to and are going to attempt to make an ecosystem on mars. we will see it in our lives we might desire to do something to get off this planet! Peace

Answer 7

yes its is unrealistic and is not possible but theses are only assumptions but will never be possible