Chapter 40 · Part Eight — Beyond Earth · 2 min read

What Mars Actually Demands

The established facts first, because the ethics only become interesting once the difficulty is honest.

ATMOSPHERE

About one per cent of Earth’s surface pressure, predominantly carbon dioxide. Unbreathable, and too thin to shield or to hold warmth.

RADIATION

No global magnetic field. Surface exposure to cosmic and solar radiation is hazardous over long durations; shielding means living under regolith or rock.

TEMPERATURE & SOIL

Averages far below freezing. The regolith contains perchlorates, toxic to humans and hostile to most crops without extensive processing.

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