Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Dejah Saunders, Sophomore
Lead Presenter's Name
Dejah Saunders
Faculty Mentor Name
Johanna Engstrom
Abstract
Colonization of Mars is and is not so out of reach today but there are a lot of challenges that must be overcome if life on Mars is to be seen. Mars, also known as the sister planet to Earth, is very similar to Earth. Mars's orbital tilt is 25.19 degrees while Earth’s is 23.5 with more similarities of physical size, time of revolution around the sun, and etc. Research shows that there has been water on Mars which indicates life could have been on Mars in the past or that Mars had features to sustain life. However, currently Mars is not habitable to life as we know it. I’ve identified three main challenges that need to be solved to make Mars livable: an atmosphere that provides oxygen and a greenhouse effect, a source of heat that compensates for the planet’s far distance to the sun, and water. In this project scientific solutions to these challenges such as thermonuclear mining and the creation of an artificial atmosphere, are critically evaluated, and a “best path forward” is to completely build a totally artificial atmosphere instead of making ways for Mars to develop its atmosphere “naturally.”
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Beginning Of Artificial Atmosphere
Colonization of Mars is and is not so out of reach today but there are a lot of challenges that must be overcome if life on Mars is to be seen. Mars, also known as the sister planet to Earth, is very similar to Earth. Mars's orbital tilt is 25.19 degrees while Earth’s is 23.5 with more similarities of physical size, time of revolution around the sun, and etc. Research shows that there has been water on Mars which indicates life could have been on Mars in the past or that Mars had features to sustain life. However, currently Mars is not habitable to life as we know it. I’ve identified three main challenges that need to be solved to make Mars livable: an atmosphere that provides oxygen and a greenhouse effect, a source of heat that compensates for the planet’s far distance to the sun, and water. In this project scientific solutions to these challenges such as thermonuclear mining and the creation of an artificial atmosphere, are critically evaluated, and a “best path forward” is to completely build a totally artificial atmosphere instead of making ways for Mars to develop its atmosphere “naturally.”