11 replies to this topic

[Guyverman1990]

Hi guys,

Just wondering. What materials and equipment do you think would be needed for a human to survive on a planet with a climate like Venus?

Humans will succumb shortly to the atmospheric contidtions of the planet, even with the most state of the art and advanced respiratory spacesuits and gear available today.

[Lux]

Large and expensive arcologies with cooling technology and their own self-sustaining eco-systems?

[Lux]

http://en.wikipedia....zation_of_Venus

[Italian Ufo]

I think to try to establish some settlements on mars and on the moon it should be our priority.

[Logically Irrational]

The most likely course that we'll take to colonize Venus would be floating aerostat cities. It would be a lot easier than having to deal with a super-greenhouse all the time. I would say Venus will be colonized by a combination of floating cities and orbital space stations.

As far as surviving on Venus, I imagine it would take some extremely durable material. Femtotechnology is probably overkill, but it couldn't hurt. Getting on and off the planet might be difficult, and I know a space elevator is unfeasible on Venus, so we would probably have to utilize some kind of skyhook.

[tornado64]

We won't survive on Venus anytime soon. I mean even robots don't live longer than two hours there at the moment. The pressure is like one kilometer deep in the ocean...
Venus is not that interesting target, compared to the Moon, Mars, Asteroids and Space Stations.

[Logically Irrational]

Very true. I think the only reason we'll colonize Venus in the future is simply because we can. I imagine that the only things we'll build on the surface, at least at first, will be scientific stations.

Terraforming is, of course, another matter entirely.

[Livid]

No point might as well have some automated operations there for mining, probably over seen by a couple hundred humans in a secure base.

[Time_Traveller]

I don't think we should terraform venus only put something like a research station or mining outpost there in 80-100 years.

[eacao]

Firstly, the exterior of any habitat would need to be made from a material which is extremely heat resistant, strong-and-hard and chemically inert (acid resistant). A good idea might be to build the structure underground (I don't know if venus has plate tectonics), building a habitat one-hundred meters underground would at least protect you from the acid atmosphere and some of the searing temperatures.

I'd think that a silicon-carbide lined habitat underground with ample temperature control would do the trick. Except it would be tricky to get back up into space. I think you'd be stuck.

The other suggestions of floating cities seem better solutions until terraforming is made available. But if you ask me, I'd rather settle the oceans of Earth, or if Earth isn't an option, one of the Jovian moons or Saturn's moon; Titan. Mars seems a little dull for me. Just an infinite red.

[MarcusAurelius]

The most likely course that we'll take to colonize Venus would be floating aerostat cities. It would be a lot easier than having to deal with a super-greenhouse all the time. I would say Venus will be colonized by a combination of floating cities and orbital space stations.

As far as surviving on Venus, I imagine it would take some extremely durable material. Femtotechnology is probably overkill, but it couldn't hurt. Getting on and off the planet might be difficult, and I know a space elevator is unfeasible on Venus, so we would probably have to utilize some kind of skyhook.

You are absolutely right about aerostat cities. The thing people misconstrue about Venus is that its unlivable because of the enormous pressures experienced at surface level. But thats not thinking outside the box. Its akin to saying that Earth is unlivable at seabed levels because of the enormous pressures and completely ignoring that you can go higher at lower depths in the ocean.

The advantages of Venus being the logical next destination for colonisation is that its

1. Its gravity is almost equal to Earths, so no bone decalcification and osteoporosis problems
2. Venus is much closer to Earth than even Mars, so from a budgetary standpoint, it will cost us less fuel to get there
3. The temperature and pressure on the surface of Venus is hellish, but at 50km up it is quite tranquil and enjoys temperatures similar to earth
4. Because the pressures at 50km are exactly equal to 1 earth atmosphere, you can get by with less cumbersome suits and need only protect
yourself from suffocation of the largely carbon atmosphere, being that at 50km you are well above the Venusian sulfuric clouds
5. Nitrogen and Oxygen are actually lifting gases in the Venusian atmosphere, a city can easily float at 50km up
6. With copious amounts of sunshine, solar power becomes the most logical and practical means of power.




http://io9.com/50388...ur-solar-system
http://www.space.com...ties-venus.html
http://www.universet...loating-cities/

[eacao]

@ MarcusAurelius, I agree with all of those pro's, except the bone decalcification being a reason for colonising venus over Mars first. Gene therapy could well help us, as could running on a treadmill with elastic cordes pulling you down from your shoulders.

Since something like that has never been attempted before, there would also need to be a lot of technology testing, and so Mars seems the cheaper option there as well.
However, just because Mars may be the first to be colonised, doesn't mean that Venus won't be. I'd sure like to go there sometime.

Also, lastly, the higher gravity would make it more expensive to undertake missions to Venus, and enormously more difficult to return to space once there. Phobos and Deimos also make Mars more attractive if you can have a harbour for incoming ships. Does Venus have any moons?