Concluding Remarks

Terraforming is, as we have shown, a complex process, but not necessarily an impossible one. Changing the cold desert that is Mars into a temperate planet like Earth, fit for complex life is not something that happens overnight. It may take thousands of years but it can be done.

Understanding the volatile history and inventory of Mars is critical to the success of such a project. We must know what we have to work with and why we have these materials and not others. While there are many uncertainties, including whether Mars ever had a warm, wet climate, Terraforming is no longer the realm of science fiction. Rather, it is part of the Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.

Were it a little warmer, water could flow on the surface of Mars as it may have done in the past. With liquid water, even in the present atmosphere, some plants could survive, oxygenating the atmosphere and making it a place fit for humans. It will take thousands of years, but eventually Mars can be made to be like Earth.

While it may be technically possible to terraform Mars, it may not be a good idea in terms of Planetary Protection. If life is discovered on Mars, all measures must be taken to ensure that whatever we do does not compromise the indiginous life. Terraforming may be permissible under Planetary Protection Policies, but it may not. Nevertheless the idea of another world where humans can walk freely on the surface is appealing. From there, it is only one more step to colonizing the rest of the solar system. To quote Constantin Tsilokovsky, "The Earth is the cradle of mankind, but one cannot live in the cradle forever."

These pages designed by James Roberts
Last updated:  05 May 2002

http://anquetil.colorado.edu/~jhr/terraform/conclusions-nf.html