What is Terraforming?

The process by which the climate, surface and known properties of Mars would be deliberately changed with the goal of making it habitable ny humans and other terrestrial life; and thus providing the possibility of safe and sustainable colonization of the large areas of the planet.

Why Mars?

Mars consists of much of the soil minerals needed to terraform. Additionally recent scientific research has revealed there are large amounts of water locked up as ice permafrost just below the surface down to latitude 60, as well as at the surface on the poles where it is mixed with dry ice, frozen CO2. It is even suggested that there are vast amounts of ice in the deeper crust. As the polar carbon dioxide ice (CO₂) sublimes back into the atmosphere during the martian summer, it leaves a small amounts of water residue, which fast winds sweep off the poles at speeds approaching 250 mph (400 km/h). These seasonal actions transport large amounts of dust and water vapor giving rise to Earth-like cirrus clouds.

Changes Required?

Chlorofluorcarbon are the most likely candidates for artificial insertion into the Martian atmosphere because of their strong effect as a greenhouse gas. This can conceivably be done relatively cheaply by sending rockets with a payload of compressed CFCs on a collision course with Mars. When the rocket crashes onto the surface it releases its payload into the atmosphere. A steady barrage of these “CFC rockets” would need to be sustained for a little more than a decade while the planet changes chemically and becomes warmer.