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| − | [[File:02011122414522522.jpg|thumb|295x295px|The surface of Venus is always hidden from view by thick cloud coverage. To the naked eye, it appears white and almost featureless. ]] |
+ | [[File:02011122414522522.jpg|thumb|295x295px|The surface of Venus is always hidden from view by thick cloud coverage. To the naked eye, it appears white and almost featureless. ]]The '''colonization of Venus''' has been a subject of much speculation and many works of science fiction since before the dawn of spaceflight, and is still much discussed. With the discovery of Venus' hostile surface environment, attention has largely shifted towards the colonization of the Moon and the colonization of Mars. Recently however, papers have surfaced on the feasibility of colonizing Venus beginning from the less hostile cloud-tops, making surface exploration in the beginning unnecessary. This two-part approach to the exploration and colonization of the planet has refocused interest on Venus. |
| + | '''Colonization of Venus with present conditions''' |
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| − | -Geoffrey A. Landis |
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| + | To launch a safe colonization, as the atmosphere is not at all made up of oxygen, you would need to create your own. Plants would be able to live given the chemical content of the atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide - about 96.5% - and nitrogen- 3.5% -) they breath in the carbon dioxide and out oxygen. |
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| − | '''Venus '''is the second planet from the Sun and the second largest terrestrial planet in the solar system. It is very similar to Earth in size and mass, but due to a number of significant differences the conditions on Venus are some of the most extreme in the solar system. |
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| + | A habitat filled with same composition of earth's atmosphere at sea level will float high in the dense Venus atmosphere, The atmospheric pressure at 50 km above the surface of Venus is the same as Earth sea level (1 bar). Just in the same way that weather balloons float away from the high dense gas at the surface until the internal pressure is equal with the external pressure in the upper atmosphere, a balloon habitat with the internal pressure like that of earth would rise to an altitude where the external pressure was the same, since carbon dioxide is much more dense than the Nitrogen in our atmosphere. Temperatures are perfect for Earth, just over 0°C at that altitude on Venus. Essentially, you could walk outside onto a ramp with just an oxygen tank and look over the clouds below. Ideally, these floating habitats would be self sufficient closed systems, meaning they would produce their own oxygen through photosynthesis which wouldn't be difficult in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Water could be extracted from the sulfuric acid in the clouds below. |
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| − | Venus has a thick atmosphere composed of mainly carbon dioxide, which has led to a runaway greenhouse effect. The result is extreme surface temperatures and atmospheric pressures ninety times that of Earth at sea level. Clouds of sulfuric acid are also present in large quantities, pushed by winds of up to 100 m/s. These conditions would force any colonization efforts to remain in the upper atmosphere, where conditions are considerably more favorable. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Advantages == |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Proximity to Earth''' === |
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| − | Depending on where each planet is in its orbit, Venus is often the closest planet to Earth. Transit times to Venus with current technology are around 4-5 months, with launch windows every 584 days. This would facilitate travel to and from the planet more frequently and quickly than Mars or other targets. The round trip communication delay is also shorter, although still too long for live communication, making potential colonists far less removed from Earth society than many locations. |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Surface Gravity''' === |
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| − | Venus is the only terrestrial body to offer gravitational conditions nearing Earth's, at 0.904 g. This is a major issue for other colonization targets, since it is unknown whether partial gravity is enough to keep humans healthy and there is currently no way to provide artificial gravity on a planets surface. |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Thick Atmosphere''' === |
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| − | Although the thick carbon dioxide atmosphere makes the surface of Venus unlivable, it has benefits as well. It provides near complete protection from harmful radiation, a significant concern elsewhere in the solar system. It can be used for air braking of entry vehicles, and conventional airfoil craft could be used to navigate the upper levels. There is a band in the troposphere where the pressure and temperature are very close to Earth's, and because nitrogen and oxygen are lighter than carbon dioxide, a breathable air mix would function as a lifting gas. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be used to grow plants, and sulfuric acid could be broken down to produce water. |
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| − | {| class="article-table" |
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| − | ! colspan="3" |Conditions at Various Altitudes |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |Height [km] |
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| − | |Temperature [C] |
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| − | |Pressure [atm] |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |0 |
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| − | |462 |
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| − | |92 |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |45 |
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| − | |110 |
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| − | |1.98 |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |50 |
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| − | |75 |
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| − | |1.07 |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |55 |
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| − | |27 |
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| − | |0.53 |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |60 |
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| − | |<nowiki>-10</nowiki> |
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| − | |0.24 |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |65 |
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| − | |<nowiki>-30</nowiki> |
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| − | |0.10 |
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| − | |} |
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| − | |||
| − | == Difficulties == |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Extreme Surface Conditions''' === |
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| − | The surface of Venus is completely unlivable due to the heavy atmosphere of carbon dioxide. A runaway greenhouse effect has resulted in temperatures above 450 C planet-wide, hot enough to melt lead. Pressures are over 90 times that of Earth, similar to being a kilometer under water. Conditions make even robotic missions difficult, with most so far lasting only minutes on the surface. Volcanoes and pyroclastic flows also present dangers near the surface, and the clouds of sulfuric acid the cover the planet are extremely corrosive. Colonists on Venus would be restricted completely to the upper troposphere. |
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| − | |||
| − | [[File:Surface.jpg|thumb|685x685px|Surface of Venus from the Venera 13 probe.|none]] |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Poor Resources''' === |
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| − | Water, oxygen, and hydrogen are rare on Venus, and the lack of magnetosphere means they are constantly stripped away from the atmosphere. Sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide vapors blanket the air, corroding unprotected surfaces. Any mineral resources on the surface are nearly inaccessible except by hardened robotic excursions, but if machines capable of operating in such a hostile environment were developed some mining might be able to occur. |
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| − | |||
| − | === '''Deep Gravity Well''' === |
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| − | The gravity on Venus may be good for human health, but with an escape velocity only slightly lower than Earth at 10.4 km/s, leaving the planet can be difficult. This means unless fuel can be processed on Venus, spacecraft would need to carry much more propellant with lower useful payload. Airfoils could potentially be used to lessen these difficulties as the atmosphere extends much higher than Earth's, meaning aerodynamic lift can assist spacecraft up to great altitude. However, drag is also a factor even far above the surface. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Proposals == |
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| − | |||
| − | === <span style="font-size:16px;">'''Floating Habitats'''</span> === |
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| − | The hellish surface environment of Venus makes exploration difficult, and living directly on the surface would be impossible. However, around 50 km above the surface the atmospheric pressure is approximately 1 atm, and temperatures in this band are a very reasonable 20 C to 37 C. An aerostat habitat or 'floating city' at this altitude would find possibly the most Earth-like environment in the solar system outside of our own planet. |
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| − | |||
| − | [[File:Aerostat_Habitat.jpg|thumb|688x688px|NASA High Altitude Venus Operational Concept|none]] |
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| − | |||
| − | Due to the density of the Venusian atmosphere, the breathable air mix in the habitat would actually provide buoyancy, perhaps supplemented by light gas balloons to increase lift. There would be no need for pressure suits or extensive heat shielding outside, and any gas leaks would cause slow diffusion rather than explosive decompression. The thick atmosphere above would provide adequate radiation protection, and surface coatings could protect against the corrosive effects of sulfuric acid. |
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| − | |||
| − | The structure would be untethered and allowed to move with the air, riding high speed winds around the planet every four or five days, producing a day/ night cycle much closer to Earth's and removing structural requirements for resisting the powerful winds. Incoming spaceships could make use of extensive aerobraking and either launch airships or use a final powered descent to access the colony. |
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| − | |||
| − | Solar power could be harnessed at this altitude, and the high winds would also be an excellent source of energy. Filtration of the atmosphere would provide carbon dioxide for plants, producing oxygen and food. Reactions could produce water from sulfuric acid for consumption and agriculture. |
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| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
Venus has been the subject of a number of terraforming proposals. The proposals seek to remove or convert the dense carbon dioxide atmosphere, reduce Venus's 500 °C (770 K) surface temperature, and establish a day/night light cycle closer to that of Earth's. |
Venus has been the subject of a number of terraforming proposals. The proposals seek to remove or convert the dense carbon dioxide atmosphere, reduce Venus's 500 °C (770 K) surface temperature, and establish a day/night light cycle closer to that of Earth's. |
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| − | Most proposals involve deployment of a solar shade and/or a system of orbital mirrors, for the purpose of reducing insolation and providing light to the dark side of Venus. Another common thread in most proposals involves some introduction of large quantities hydrogen or water. Proposals also involve either freezing most of Venus's atmospheric CO2, or converting it to carbonates, urea or other forms. |
+ | Most proposals involve deployment of a solar shade and/or a system of orbital mirrors, for the purpose of reducing insolation and providing light to the dark side of Venus. Another way to cool Venus is via a lens system where the light is bent away from the planet or even concentrated at the equator. By concentrating enoumous amounts of sunlight in a small area at the equator we could potentially cause a change in the circulation of the planets atmosphere via a huge upwelling Hadley cell structure. If the atmosphere could be turned over it would cool much quicker, its easier for heat to escape 1 bar of atmosphere than 90 for instance. Another common thread in most proposals involves some introduction of large quantities hydrogen or water. Proposals also involve either freezing most of Venus's atmospheric CO2, or converting it to carbonates, urea or other forms.__FORCETOC__ |
| − | == See Also == |
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| − | {| class="article-table" |
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| − | ! colspan="7" |Solar System Targets |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |Inner Solar System |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Mercury Mercury] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Venus Venus] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon Luna] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Mars Mars] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Ceres Ceres] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_the_asteroids Asteroids] |
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| − | |- |
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| − | |Outer Solar System |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Io Io] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Europa Europa] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Ganymede Ganymede] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Callisto Callisto] |
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| − | |[http://spacecolonization.wikia.com/wiki/Colonization_of_Titan Titan] |
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| − | |Enceladus |
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| − | |} |
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| − | __FORCETOC__ |
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[[Category:Space colonization by location]] |
[[Category:Space colonization by location]] |
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Revision as of 17:44, 2 February 2022
The surface of Venus is always hidden from view by thick cloud coverage. To the naked eye, it appears white and almost featureless.
The colonization of Venus has been a subject of much speculation and many works of science fiction since before the dawn of spaceflight, and is still much discussed. With the discovery of Venus' hostile surface environment, attention has largely shifted towards the colonization of the Moon and the colonization of Mars. Recently however, papers have surfaced on the feasibility of colonizing Venus beginning from the less hostile cloud-tops, making surface exploration in the beginning unnecessary. This two-part approach to the exploration and colonization of the planet has refocused interest on Venus.
Colonization of Venus with present conditions
To launch a safe colonization, as the atmosphere is not at all made up of oxygen, you would need to create your own. Plants would be able to live given the chemical content of the atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide - about 96.5% - and nitrogen- 3.5% -) they breath in the carbon dioxide and out oxygen.
A habitat filled with same composition of earth's atmosphere at sea level will float high in the dense Venus atmosphere, The atmospheric pressure at 50 km above the surface of Venus is the same as Earth sea level (1 bar). Just in the same way that weather balloons float away from the high dense gas at the surface until the internal pressure is equal with the external pressure in the upper atmosphere, a balloon habitat with the internal pressure like that of earth would rise to an altitude where the external pressure was the same, since carbon dioxide is much more dense than the Nitrogen in our atmosphere. Temperatures are perfect for Earth, just over 0°C at that altitude on Venus. Essentially, you could walk outside onto a ramp with just an oxygen tank and look over the clouds below. Ideally, these floating habitats would be self sufficient closed systems, meaning they would produce their own oxygen through photosynthesis which wouldn't be difficult in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Water could be extracted from the sulfuric acid in the clouds below.
Terraforming of Venus
- Main article: Terraforming of Venus
Venus has been the subject of a number of terraforming proposals. The proposals seek to remove or convert the dense carbon dioxide atmosphere, reduce Venus's 500 °C (770 K) surface temperature, and establish a day/night light cycle closer to that of Earth's.
Most proposals involve deployment of a solar shade and/or a system of orbital mirrors, for the purpose of reducing insolation and providing light to the dark side of Venus. Another way to cool Venus is via a lens system where the light is bent away from the planet or even concentrated at the equator. By concentrating enoumous amounts of sunlight in a small area at the equator we could potentially cause a change in the circulation of the planets atmosphere via a huge upwelling Hadley cell structure. If the atmosphere could be turned over it would cool much quicker, its easier for heat to escape 1 bar of atmosphere than 90 for instance. Another common thread in most proposals involves some introduction of large quantities hydrogen or water. Proposals also involve either freezing most of Venus's atmospheric CO2, or converting it to carbonates, urea or other forms.