Given the current conditions on Mars, it is impossible for human beings to even breathe, let alone survive.  For humans to inhabit Mars, it is necessary to "terraform" it.  Well, what is terraforming?

Terraforming is the process of modifying the atmosphere, temperature, topography, or ecology of a planet or terrestrial body to make it habitable (or suitable) for people from Earth to live.  

The next question is: What does it take to terraform planet Mars?  Watch the below videos to know more...

Scientists and engineers are exploring various ways in which planet Mars could be terraformed to make it habitable for humans to live on the red planet one day.  Read the sections below to know more... 

Currently, Mars has a very thin atmosphere that is mostly made of Carbon dioxide.  The atmospheric pressure is also very low.  In addition, it is extremely cold on Mars since it is farther away from the Sun than Earth is.  If we can increase the density of the atmosphere on Mars, the atmosphere will trap heat around the planet, without allowing it to escape into outer space.  This in turn increases the temperature on Mars, ultimately making it bearable for humans.  

Here are few radical ideas that have been proposed for creating an atmosphere on Mars and warming the planet:

• Release the carbon dioxide in the ice and then into the atmosphere by dropping a thermo-nuclear bomb on the Mars's polar ice caps.

• Mine and release chlorofluorocarbons into the Martian atmosphere so that it covers the atmosphere with green-house gases and warms the planet.

• Take comets or small planets with ammonia on them and hurtle them onto the Martian surface so that it increases the amount of chlorofluorocarbon gases in the atmosphere.

• Set up giant mirrors around Mars and re-direct sunlight on the Martian polar ice-caps to melt the ice and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• Throw dust on one area of Mars so that it can trap more heat on the surface.

Mars has no magnetic field (called magnetosphere) since its core has cooled down significantly over millions of years.  Any atmosphere created artificially on Mars will be blown away from the solar winds and the atmosphere loses its pressure in just a matter of time.  One idea to address this problem goes like this: By placing a giant magnet between the Earth and Mars, we can create a magnetic field around Mars that can deflect the solar winds away from Mars and help Mars hold its atmosphere together.  The mirror can be mounted on an 'Orbiter' that revolves around Mars.  As the Orbiter moves, it can emit a magnetic field all around Mars.

Due to the lack of magnetosphere around Mars, radiation from solar winds is very high on Mars.  By creating a magnetic field around Mars, we will be able to sustain the atmosphere around Mars.  Once we have a sustainable atmosphere around Mars, the atmosphere can block harmful ultraviolet radiation and create a more conducive environment for humans to settle down on Mars.  Until then, we need special space-suits that can help protect us from radiation.

There is no vegetation on Mars.  But, vegetation is the primary source of food for human beings.  This requires us to cultivate food crops on Mars.  Fortunately, Mars's atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide, an essential gas for plant survival.  Mars also has plenty of carbon dioxide trapped in its polar ice caps.  By releasing the trapped carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we will be able to grow algae, moss, and mold to begin with.  The algae, moss, and mold will take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere.  Over time, bigger plants and alpine trees can be planted on Mars that can provide food for humans living on Mars.

Oxygen is most essential for humans to survive on Mars.  Mars has less than 1% of oxygen in its atmosphere.  However, a lot of oxygen is trapped in iced water found in its polar regions. Here are some ideas to generate Oxygen on Mars:

• Split oxygen and hydrogen molecules from water.  Oxygen can be released into the atmosphere, while Hydrogen can be used as fuel by the Mars colonists.

• Cultivate plant life on Mars that takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere.  Over time, with many plants and trees growing on Mars, the atmosphere can get filled up with oxygen.

• Using a technique called electrolysis, carbon dioxide can be split into oxygen and carbon monoxide.  The generated oxygen can be released into the atmosphere to increase its percentage in the air.

It may not be possible to prevent dust storms from arising, but by growing thick vegetation on the Martian surface, dust storms can be minimized.   Growing vegetation first requires a suitable atmosphere to be created on Mars that allows plant life to grow and flourish.  However, growing vegetation over the entire planet's surface will be a very very slow process, taking centuries to accomplish.

By digging the polar ice caps for iced water and making it liquid, we can create lakes and rivers that can start flowing across the Martian surface.

Here's an artistic representation of how a lake could be formed on Mars by extracting water from the polar ice caps and making it flow to fill nearby craters and valleys.

Mars is rich in silicon, iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium.  We can mine the minerals and metals on Mars using autonomous robotic machines sent from Earth.  The extracted minerals and metals can be processed further using other machines to finally produce raw materials (such as steel, aluminum, glass, etc.) for the construction of human habitation on Mars.  

Many of the ideas presented in the earlier sections are mere ideas.  We do not yet have all the technologies required to convert these ideas into reality.  However, ideas are important.  They give us the starting point.  We need to develop the required technologies to terraform Mars.  It will take time.  Even with the right technologies, terraforming Mars is not an easy task.  Terraforming the entire planet will take a very long time, possibly running into a few centuries.  So, we need to approach it in small chunks and make Mars habitable bit by bit.  You can play a role in building the necessary technologies to make this happen.  Would you like to try?

To see how a terraformed Mars may look like, let's take a look at a few pictures below.  These pictures show us how Mars can be terraformed over time from a dusty, rocky, and cold planet to one that is similar to Earth in conditions - having breathable oxygen, warm climate, lower radiation from solar winds, thick vegetation, water bodies such as lakes and rivers, rains, etc.

Wouldn't it be amazing to have the Martian environment similar to that of Earth one day?  When this happens, we can make Mars our second home.  If climate change and other natural disasters increase on Earth, we may be forced to flee Earth and head to Mars one day.  That is the only way we can ensure human beings survive in the long run.  So, terraforming Mars may be a necessity rather than a fantacy!

Below, you will find two types of activities:

1. Digital Activity

2. Physical Activity

You can use the knowledge acquired in this module to complete and submit either a digital activity, or a physical activity or both.  The choice is yours, but submitting at least one activity per module is important to receive participation certificate at the end of the bootcamp.

Complete ANY ONE of the below activities using a digital or AI tool of your choice:

• Imagine how planet Mars would look like when terraformed. Create a pictorial representation of the terra-formed planet using pencil, sketch pens, color paper, water colors, etc.  Shows the Martian surface with hills, valleys, Olumpus Moms mountain with volcanic crater in it, Martian sky with atmospheric clouds, plants, trees and forests on the Martian surface, flowing rivers and lakes on the Martian surface.

• Create an animated scene or virtual tour of a terraformed Mars.

• Create a 3D model of "MOXIE" - the equipment used to generate oxygen from carbon dioxide on Mars.

• Create a 3D model of a machine that can drill holes in the polar ice caps on Mars to extract water from it.

• Create a 3D Model of an autonomous machine that is used for mining minerals and metals on Mars.

• Create a Game in which you can drop thermo-nuclear bombs on Martian polar ice caps to release carbon-dioxide trapped in the ice.  You score points in the game for releasing sufficient carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to warm the planet and make it habitable for human settlement.

• Build a mobile app, website, video, chatbot, or eBook that provides information to students on how Mars can be terraformed.

Customize or enhance the above activities further as per your interest and bandwidth.

If you need guidance in using AI-based digital tools, please click here.

Submitting your Digital Activity: Click the "Submit Activity" button at the bottom of this page to submit your digital activity.  In the submission form, paste the link to your digital creation directly from the online tool, or paste the link to your digital creation from your Google Drive folder.  Ensure that the link has "public access" or "Anyone with the link can view".

Build a physical prototype or model of a "Mars In-situ Water Extractor".

Use the following materials to build the model:

• Long Screw – 2 inches length

• DC Motor

• Wires – Red & Black

• Toggle Switch

• Plastic Box (to collect water) – 3 inch x 3 inch 

• Plastic Straw

• Thermocol Sheet

Submitting your Physical Activity: Take a photo or video clip of your physical prototype or model and upload it to your Google Drive folder.  Click the "Submit Activity" button at the bottom of this page to submit your physical activity.  In the activity submission form, paste the link to the photo or video uploaded on your Google Drive folder. Ensure that the link has "public access" or "Anyone with the link can view".