Colonization of Venus

The surface of Venus is always hidden from view by the world wide sulfuric acid 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.

Characteristics

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and the closest to Earth. 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.

Currently, the runaway greenhouse effect on Venus has created a hellish surface environment, with temperatures high enough to melt lead and pressures similar to being deep under Earth's oceans. However, there is a potentially habitable region around 50 km above the surface where the pressure, temperature, and gravity are all quite close to Earth levels. In some ways this is the most Earth-like environment in the solar system outside of our own planet. This region could be explored using a spacecraft-launched airship system.

Due to the density of the Venusian atmosphere, oxygen is a lifting gas and a structure filled with breathable air could float high in the clouds. Temperatures at this altitude are similar to Earth, just over 0°C. 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.

Reasons for colonization

Space colonization is a step beyond space exploration, and implies the permanent or long-term presence of humans in an environment outside Earth. Stephen Hawking has stated that colonization of space would be the best way to ensure the survival of humans as a species (see also the anti-congestion argument). Other reasons for colonizing space include economic interests, long-term scientific research best carried out by humans, and sheer curiosity. Venus being the second largest terrestrial planet and Earth's closest neighbor make it a potential target. Venus' atmospheric gravity (Around 30 Miles Up) is also approximately the same as that of Earth.

Another factor is the presence of large amounts of deuterium in the atmosphere of Venus. This isotope of hydrogen is a valuable component of fusion fuels. On Venus, it is found in the form of sulfate, or heavy sulfuric acid, and can be harvested from the clouds.

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 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.