How Quickly Could Venus Be Terraformed?

[Radrook]

Since Venus is the only planet in our solar system that provides adequate gravity it's surface would be ideal for permanent colonization since such things as bone loss and blindness due to microgravity effects would be avoided. However we have the atmospheric pressure which is 100 times greater than Earth's at sea level and the corrosive sulfuric acid laden clouds and temperatures extremes capable of melting lead problems that prevent it. What would be the quickest way to transform Venus into an Earthlike habitat if indeed we ever decide to try it?

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

The atmosphere of Venus doesn't have adequate gravity. It's 92 times STRONGER than Earth gravity. Anything we send there would be crushed. That's not to mention the absolutely lethal amounts of radiation from being so close to the sun and the toxic nature of the planet's atmosphere.

 

[Radrook]

The atmosphere of Venus doesn't have adequate gravity. It's 92 times STRONGER than Earth gravity. Anything we send there would be crushed. That's not to mention the absolutely lethal amounts of radiation from being so close to the sun and the toxic nature of the planet's atmosphere.

True, reduction of that atmospheric pressure to avoid getting crushed would be a key factor. How do we thin that atmosphere sufficiently in order to provide tolerable pressure. Obviously we have to thin it out in some manner. Also how can we quickly remove all the sulfuric acid? A real shame since surface gravity is do similar to ours.

 

[Greg J.]

What would be the quickest way to transform Venus into an Earthlike habitat if indeed we ever decide to try it?

Pray.

If you don't like that solution, then passing the problem onto the next generation seems to be popular.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

True, reduction of that atmospheric pressure to avoid getting crushed would be a key factor. How do we thin that atmosphere sufficiently in order to provide tolerable pressure. Obviously we have to thin it out in some manner. Also how can we quickly remove all the sulfuric acid? A real shame since surface gravity is do similar to ours. About radiation. please keep in mind that a thick atmosphere

Why bother with Venus anyway? Why not go with Mars?

 

[timewerx]

The atmosphere of Venus doesn't have adequate gravity. It's 92 times STRONGER than Earth gravity. Anything we send there would be crushed. That's not to mention the absolutely lethal amounts of radiation from being so close to the sun and the toxic nature of the planet's atmosphere.

Actually, things are getting crushed in there not due to gravity but due to high surface atmospheric pressure.

The surface pressure at Venus is equivalent to the pressure many meters underwater here on Earth. Moving around in Venus at the surface is almost like trying to walk underwater due to the very dense atmosphere.

Replacing/converting the CO2 atmosphere to Oxygen + Nitrogen would take around 100 years using my concept

 

[Radrook]

Actually, things are getting crushed in there not due to gravity but due to high surface atmospheric pressure.

The surface pressure at Venus is equivalent to the pressure many meters underwater here on Earth. Moving around in Venus at the surface is almost like trying to walk underwater due to the very dense atmosphere.

Replacing/converting the CO2 atmosphere to Oxygen + Nitrogen would take around 100 years using my concept

How would we go about thinking that atmosphere? Some have suggested using asteroid impacts to begin blowing it off into space.

Your concept involves having machines that can operate on the surface because they can tolerate the heat due to your coolling invention-correct? They must be some very efficient machines to get the job done in just 100 years! What are these machines exactly supposed to do with the pressure problem?

BTW
I have two questions on the Warp Drive thread for you.
Would appreciate a respobnse. Thanx!

Warp Drive-how feasible?

 

[Radrook]

Pray.

If you don't like that solution, then passing the problem onto the next generation seems to be popular.

I don't think that the Lord God wants us on that planet to be honest. Otherwise-why make it so hostile?

 

[Saucy]

Venus is a nightmare. I don't think anyone is focused on headed there. Too close to the sun for any real opportunity. I think we'll be living in a massive space-station structure long before we colonize a planet. If the Lord tarries that is.

 

[Radrook]

Venus is a nightmare. I don't think anyone is focused on headed there. Too close to the sun for any real opportunity. I think we'll be living in a massive space-station structure long before we colonize a planet. If the Lord tarries that is.

Well, NASA has plans to set up observation outposts at an altitude where conditions are as Earthlike as they are nowhere else in our solar system. But the surface? That's another kettle of fish entirely.

HAVOC: NASA’s Plan To Send Airships To Venus

 

[Saucy]

Well, NASA has plans to set up observation outposts at an altitude where conditions are as Earthlike as they are nowhere else in our solar system. But the surface? That's another kettle of fish entirely.

Oh very interesting! I hadn't heard that.

 

[Radrook]

Oh very interesting! I hadn't heard that.

Here is how they envision it given enough time:

The HAVOC Program
This, however, has not completely stymied the interest in our sister planet, as NASA has taken steps towards studying the planet more thoroughly. NASA’s Langley Research Center has proposed five mission concepts that would enable the space agency to learn more about the planet Venus. Called the High Altitude Venus Operational Concept (HAVOC), the program would first begin by sending a robotic probe to Venus (Phase 1). This probe would then analyze the atmosphere of Venus and will be followed shortly by a 30-day manned orbital mission (Phase 2). Phase 3 would involve a crewed mission into the atmosphere of Venus; this mission would last 30 days and will obviously not involve sending astronauts to the surface of the planet. Phase 4 is similar to the previous phase, but would see a manned mission lasting an entire year. The final phase would entail having a permanent settlement established in the atmosphere of Venus.
HAVOC: NASA’s Plan To Send Airships To Venus

Inflatable aircraft could cruise Venus skies

 

[Saucy]

That's really cool.

 

[lesliedellow]

The atmosphere of Venus doesn't have adequate gravity. It's 92 times STRONGER than Earth gravity. Anything we send there would be crushed. That's not to mention the absolutely lethal amounts of radiation from being so close to the sun and the toxic nature of the planet's atmosphere.

Ah, but you forget, there is no limit to the things technological wonder workers can achieve. At least in the eyes of sci fi fanatics, there isn't.

Doubtless they could transform the entire universe if they put their minds to it.

 

[CrystalDragon]

Since Venus is the only planet in our solar system that provides adequate gravity it's surface would be ideal for permanent colonization since such things as bone loss and blindness due to microgravity effects would be avoided. However we have the atmospheric pressure which is 100 times greater than Earth's at sea level and the corrosive sulfuric acid laden clouds and temperatures extremes capable of melting lead problems that prevent it. What would be the quickest way to transform Venus into an Earthlike habitat if indeed we ever decide to try it?

Why not terraform Mars instead? It could potentially be easier.

 

[Radrook]

That's really cool.

Why not terraform Mars instead? It could potentially be easier.

True, but the extremely low Martian gravity [which is 38% that of Earth's] would remain regardless of terraforming and that would lead to bone loss muscular atrophy and blindness exacerbated by the long trip to get there. In fact, you would weigh approx the same on Mercury as you would on Mars.

Venus is much closer at 25 million miles at closest approach making travel time exposure to the harmful effects of microgravity less significant. Surface gravity being approx the same as on Earth would make a permanent residence there would be OK if the problems of heat, and atmospheric composition and pressure were solved. Not saying it is possible with our current technology.


BTW
The ones who entertain the idea aren't delusional sci-fi fanatics. They are NASA scientists who imagine how Venus would be if it were terraformed and who evaluate the different way in which it might be done.

 

[Saucy]

True, but the extremely low Martian gravity [which is 38% that of Earth's] would remain regardless of terraforming and that would lead to bone loss muscular atrophy and blindness exacerbated by the long trip to get there.

Venus is much closer at 25 million miles at closest approach making travel time exposure to the harmful effects of microgravity less significant. Surface gravity being approx the same as on Earth would make a permanent residence there would be OK if the problems of heat, and atmospheric composition and pressure were solved.
Not saying it is possible with our current technology.


BTW
The ones who entertain the idea aren't delusional sci-fi fanatics. They are NASA scientists who imagine how Venus would be if it were terraformed and who evaluate the different way in which it might be done.

At least I'll weigh less on Mars.

 

[Radrook]

At least I'll weigh less on Mars.

Really wanna weigh less? Then Pluto is your planet. I weigh 180 pounds on Earth and would weigh only twelve pounds there. Here is a place where to get an estimate on how much we would way on other planets and moons in our Solar System.

Your Weight on Other Worlds | Exploratorium

 

[lesliedellow]

BTW
The ones who entertain the idea aren't delusional sci-fi fanatics. They are NASA scientists who imagine how Venus would be if it were terraformed and who evaluate the different way in which it might be done.

In that case they have doubtless evaluated how they are going to get JCB diggers up there to help in the construction of plant needed to strip oxygen off of the carbon dioxide molecules, and also the means to be used in keeping their engines running in an oxygen free environment until those plants are constructed.

 

[timewerx]

How would we go about thinking that atmosphere? Some have suggested using asteroid impacts to begin blowing it off into space.

I've read it, but they also counteracted their own arguments that it would be nigh impossible and even unreliable.

What the wiki article didn't mention but I realized would happen is that multiple large impacts would transfer a lot of kinetic energy which would turn into heat in the planet's interior. Such event did happen in Mars and on Earth millions of years ago and resulted to intense geological activity like volcanism and tectonic shifting which would ironically liberate more CO2 and sulfates from the planet's interior!

Not to mention, render the surface completely inaccessible and extremely dangerous even to robots designed to resist Venus' conditions at the surface for thousands of years and send you back to square one.

Your concept involves having machines that can operate on the surface because they can tolerate the heat due to your coolling invention-correct? They must be some very efficient machines to get the job done in just 100 years! What are these machines exactly supposed to do with the pressure problem?

I would be able to cover the cooling and energy solutions. I could also partly give some ideas on how to fully automate the process and provide the strategy on how the robots will be able to repair and reproduce themselves, collect/mine resources from the immediate environment and expand the facilities until they cover the entire planet.

We are practically sending fully automated factory/workshops to Venus. In the same way we humans "terraformed" Earth for better or for worse. These robots can do it a lot faster than we ever did using advanced technology to begin with and perfect cooperation we could never even imagine to achieve!

The whole process won't require Artificial Intelligence. Non polymorphic software would do since we don't want a fleet of confused robots from Venus to stage a full scale invasion of Earth!

The pressure problem is actually easy at least in modern perspective. Protected interior facilities would utilize purified gas with the same ambient pressure as the outside would negate the need for heavy pressurized chambers. The CO2 atmosphere of Venus can be used, after all, it will be an all-robot workforce. However, it must be cooled, filtered, and removed of corrosive elements before being pumped into the facility or to the robots (for protection of electronic parts).