Article about transforming Mars

American scientists said on the 26th that the sampling analysis results of the "Phoenix" Mars landing probe showed that there are similarities between the soil at the North Pole of Mars and the soil in certain areas on the Earth. Such soil is suitable for growing asparagus, etc. crop requirements. Although some scientists believe that based on the existing evidence, it is too early to judge whether the mineral components found in the Martian soil can provide the nutrients needed for life, but this discovery undoubtedly provides a step forward for the "transformation of Mars" that scientists have dreamed of for many years. ——The goal of making it the "Second Earth" has taken a big step forward.

Mars soil is "very beneficial" to biological survival

According to reports, in a recent experiment, the "Phoenix" robotic arm collected data 2.5 centimeters below the surface of Mars. to 1 cubic centimeter of soil and feed it into the detector's experimental analysis instrument. Soil samples are poured into beakers and mixed with water brought from the earth. Analysis results show that the pH value of Martian soil is between 8 and 9, which is alkaline. In addition, the analytical instrument also detects sodium, magnesium, potassium and other elements as well as chloride in the soil.

Phoenix project scientist Samuel Kunav of Tufts University in the United States said that judging from indicators such as pH and alkalinity, the Martian soil analyzed this time is similar to that in some people’s backyards on Earth. The soil is similar and "might be good for growing asparagus."

Kunav also pointed out that analysis shows that the Martian Arctic soil is not toxic and appears to be very beneficial to biological survival. Similar soil conditions on Earth are not only suitable for growing crops like asparagus and green beans, but also for chemical-loving bacteria to thrive.

Scientists said at a press conference that the above-mentioned new results obtained by the "Phoenix" made them "stunned" with excitement. Some of their colleagues cheered after seeing the analyzed data, as if they had won the lottery. .

However, the "Phoenix" has so far not detected carbon in Martian soil samples. On Earth, carbon is one of the core elements of life.

David Page of the University of California, Los Angeles, believes that it is not surprising to find the above-mentioned mineral components in Martian soil, because over time, the weathering of Martian rocks will cause some mineral components to enter Martian soil.

Landing on Mars Humanity needs an "Earth-like" environment

Although humans have made many efforts to explore Mars for half a century, their understanding of Mars is still at the superficial stage. Scientists believe that sooner or later, humans will send astronauts to Mars like the Apollo moon landings to conduct comprehensive, specific and essential research on Mars.

If humans land on Mars, the ground station will be the bridgehead for humans on Earth to extend from space to the ground. Its function is mainly a laboratory, and it is also used as a transportation station, instrument room, material library and communication station. Based on the base for expanding the field of Mars, it mainly solves the key technical issues for human landing on Mars, such as the protection of human life and health on Mars, the exploration, development and application of Mars energy, and the exploration of Mars resources.

The Mars ground station will also carry out technological research related to the development of Mars, such as research on the transplantation of drought-resistant and cold-resistant animals and plants on Earth, research on groundwater (ice) mining, research on Mars mechanical operation, research on building sealing, etc.; At the same time, it is also necessary to carry out water, energy, resource exploration, power system, communication system, transportation roads, scientific research experiments, daily medical care, material storage and other program designs to provide theoretical and practical basis for future Mars development.

Scientists believe that using some duckweed on Earth and some gas-filled expansion chambers, a living home can be built for future humans in caves on Mars. Caves on Mars can To protect future human immigrants from the harm and effects of cosmic radiation and severe weather, Martian caves may contain large amounts of minerals, water, and ice.

However, if humans want to truly live on a strange planet, they must transform its environment to be more suitable for human habitation - just like the surface of the earth.

Mars is the only "transformable" planet in the solar system

The transformation of the Martian environment by humans on Earth has entered the agenda:

The European Space Agency drafted a plan in the 1990s The "Mars Landing Plan" was launched, the "International Conference on Mars Exploration" was held in Moscow in 1998, and the "International Conference on Mars Immigration Research" was held in the United States in August 2003. These measures show that humans on earth are determined to land on Mars and transform Mars through international cooperation. , using Mars. However, these meetings failed to reach complete consensus and failed to come up with specific and feasible operational plans.

Mars is the closest neighbor to the Earth and is the only planet in the universe that can be transformed and allowed for human life. With the development of science to this day, a series of problems with basic aerospace technology for humans to and from Mars (such as flight orbit, power, internal environment control, waste disposal, life support, communications, takeoff, landing, etc.) have been solved. The spacecraft flight does not take long (about half a year) ), the Earth also has many launch windows to Mars, with one trip every two years. Therefore, the study of Mars has become a hot topic in astronomy and aerospace research in recent years.

There are three main purposes for humans on Earth to explore Mars:

First, as a short-term purpose, to detect the abundance of water on Mars, to confirm whether there is life on Mars today or in the past, and to determine the origin of life on Earth. mystery. The mystery of life on Mars has been included in the "100 International Scientific Problems of the 21st Century".

Secondly, to help solve the problem in the medium term, when the earth’s resources (including energy) are about to be exhausted, it has become inevitable to ask for the moon and Mars.

Finally, as a long-term goal, the Martian environment will be transformed into a pseudo-Earth, developed into a planet for scientific research, tourism and even immigration, and become a second home for humans on Earth. Transforming Mars is an extremely ambitious and arduous project. Starting from the beginning of this century, mankind must implement this project in a purposeful, planned and step-by-step manner through international cooperation.

The transformation of Mars and "greening Mars" is a key step

Humans on Earth cannot always hide in buildings when they go to Mars. To gain freedom, they must establish a series of Mars bases and implement the Martian environment Transformation.

First of all, we must increase the surface temperature of Mars. The design includes: building a series of large reflectors in space orbit to reflect sunlight to the ground; spreading Martian dust to the polar caps to help absorb sunlight and melt it; producing and release chlorofluorocarbon gases to enhance the greenhouse effect; build geothermal collection systems to increase ground temperature; build nuclear power plants to output temperature; and so on.

Increase the atmospheric concentration and change the composition of the atmosphere. The design is to synchronize with the warming of the surface. The polar cap water ice and dry ice will partially melt or sublimate into gaseous state, and the carbon dioxide in the soil will also be released. In order to increase oxygen, green low-autotrophic plants that are resistant to drought, cold, and barrenness in the polar snowy mountains of the Earth can be transplanted to Mars to gradually green Mars. The intensity of sunlight on Mars is less than half that of Earth, and it can be supplemented by artificial electric light sources to enhance the release of oxygen through plant photosynthesis. Martian water resources are precious, and electrolysis is generally not used to obtain oxygen. The iron oxide everywhere is a rich source of oxygen, and oxygen can be released through industrial decomposition.

Nitrogen requires the most and may be the most difficult to increase. Nitrogen sources on Mars are scarce, and this issue remains unresolved. It is possible to transport liquid nitrogen from the Earth while exploring Mars. You can also consider using industrial production to release ozone to resist solar ultraviolet radiation. The physiological activities of human beings on earth have completely adapted to the earth's environment, and Mars can only be gradually transformed using the earth as a template. In fact, no matter how hard we try, it is impossible to make the Martian environment completely consistent with the Earth, and we can only transform it into a simulated Earth.

To establish an ecological environment on the surface of Mars, the design includes--transporting a large number of inflatable transparent plastic houses from the earth to serve as Mars greenhouses (the top layer is coated with a metal coating to resist solar ultraviolet rays), and at the same time, selecting the polar frozen soil zones of the earth The low-lying autotrophic green plants in the snow-capped mountains that are cold-resistant, drought-tolerant, not afraid of barren soil, and have strong vitality are used as pioneer plants for landing on Mars, such as ice and snow algae, cold water carrageenan, snow moss, lichen, lycophyllum fern, etc. After the dry and barren soil and rocks are turned into water-containing soil through biological weathering, some cold and drought-resistant microorganisms, fungi, ferns, coniferous plants, Asteraceae, and Cyperaceae plants are transplanted. In the future, when the environment improves, shrubs and flowers will be transplanted outdoors to gradually establish Mars oases, grasslands and gardens to form a good ecological environment.

To establish Mars agriculture and animal husbandry to solve the problem of self-sufficiency in grain and non-staple food, the design is as follows: In the early stage, Mars agriculture is greenhouse agriculture, and crops and livestock are genetically modified or genetically mutated drought- and cold-resistant varieties, such as cereals and potatoes. Plants, vegetables, fruit trees, bees, poultry, and livestock must be selected according to the environment.

Humanity will embark on another exciting space adventure.

Just like what the British poet T.S. Eliot said: We must not give up exploration. The ultimate exploration will be the starting point at the beginning, so let us re-understand it